BOOMBAPtized

I know you shouldn’t play favourites or have biases, but I can’t help it. Out of everyone I’ve heard from this crew this man might be my favourite! I still remember covering his other album and it blew me away. I’m expecting the same reaction on this one! Let’s talk about it! This is the 2025 album by MC -Mean Mo and Producer -Self Taught and together they drop this 10 track record with features from -Sucio G -Bee Danger aka Nightstalker -Mr. Ripley -Prince I Manifest -Bruce Lee -Tobias Lars And just like the other record I covered. This one has the same style intensity and rawness that I loved so much from the first! It seems Mo has a way of creating this sharp and rough atmosphere regardless of who he works with! This one is just as in your face as you’d expect albums from -DMX -RBX -Onyx in that same grain! He has that no nonsense, fuck what you think approach and it works so well! It’s also in the sense of an artist who knows his craft, skills and what he can bring to the table and utilises it as best as he can! I can’t help but find his charisma infectious as hell because it ain’t this modern, over the top bullshit vibe it’s a grounded, down to earth, right in your face type vibe and it reminds me of the 90’s era of hip-hop giving that nostalgic feel to it! I also love how he paces himself across this record! As far as flow and delivery goes he kind of reminds me of -Jay Rock! Similar smooth and gritty performances with the same impactful street poetry to match! He makes sure every word packs a punch and forces the audience to listen and soak it all in! Even amongst cypher-style tracks like -track 4 where he’s accompanied by a host of different names he still (I feel) comes out on top! Of course, another main aspect in what makes this album (and the other one) so strong is the production! When you have an artist of this caliber it’s important to know how to market and blend him with the proper instrumentation to fit his style and my god did they hit it out of the park with this one! Self Taught sounds like a student of the old school whose blending the two worlds of the past and the present to create a vibrant score combining all the best qualities of both into this exciting and thrilling album that I feel with impress both sets of fan bases! He somehow created an album that was both powerful, surreal and introspective and original all in the same breath! Each track has its own distinctive combination of swaying keys, heavy-handed drums and strings that manifest themselves in different ways depending on the track! If I had to choose my favourite beat on the album I’d have to say -Dark Men. Why? Because this reminds me of an instrumental DMX would rock on! Almost like a homage track to him. Of course we have X who kicks the song off with his classic outspoken comments as the song combines these delicate keys, thudding drum work, thick bass and a dark atmosphere that pairs with Mo’s so fucking well! Not to mention what sounds like those cinematically driven chords in the background towards the middle and end of the track! Masterful! Once again another solid performance by Mo and Self. He’s got the potential and talent of a 90’s legend! Pair that with a dope producer and you have a wrap! Don’t sleep on it!