HOW TO CURE A GHOST

When was the last time you heard a boom Bap inspired album with the topic of ‘Ghosts’ as the concept? This is a first for me. An idea that combines horror elements with the gritty underground and how does it sound fused? Let’s talk about it!

This is the 2025 record by MC Tone with Production from
-Fyksen
-Planet Earf
-P.Soul
-Sypooda
-growupkeelan
-FrankieS
And features from
-SHO
-Mercutio X
-Bri AKA
-King Trail
-TreToldEm

Now already at it’s core this is such a badass idea for a record and Tone was able to hit a tonal sweet spot where it doesn’t sound like a trademark, goofy Horrorcore album and nor does it sound like your every day, repetitive boom Bap album but instead it sounds like something unique to it’s own!
Firstly, I love how most tracks start off with a horror snippet of some sort, from creaking doors/doors knocking to lines ripped from films and certain haunting dialogue! It helps set the tone of the record and it maintains it (which I loved)
I also love the song naming! How each track has the word ‘GHOST’ in it which is double points for sticking to the concept!

As far as the production goes, we have tracks like the opening which has this methodical intro with those sharp and long winded chords with those light Jazz style taps & truly ambient strings that work hand in hand with those subtle acoustic strings that appear every 8 seconds or so!
I love how he chose to place arguably the most cerebral track at the start to let the audience know the direction of the album and how those whispers loop around the entire instrumental!

I enjoyed the beat -A MANTRA FOR GHOSTS because it gave me a ‘J-Cole/4 Your Eyez Only’ vibe and that’s my favourite album of his so I loved it!
From those lucid bass strings, 808 style drum patterns and that tweaking chord in the background that wraps around the entire track!
I admire the fact he only used a few layers to create magic!
Also MC -Mercutio X killed the feature verse!

In fact the song -AN AVERAGE GHOST was crazy too! Because this one reminded me of the 90’s era ‘GZA: Liquid Swords’ type shit! You’ve got those light Jazz keys that work in hand with those heavy handed drum work, thick bass looped lined and those occasional vocal snippets that are sampled across the track!
Deep in the background there is this Jazz influence for some added texture.
Also not to play favourites but -Bri AKA had the best verse on the album! She reminded me of a ‘Lady Of Rage’ type verse! Dope as fuck!

As far as the performance goes, Tone delivers a show series of verses that match the vibe he’s going for track for track. Each song has it’s own purpose and feel to it and not only does every track justice but brings what I’d describe as a 90’s homage to the mic! Strong lyricism, stacked charisma with a good sense of bar placement and fluent rhythm! All the qualities that was standard in the Hip-Hop scene decades ago!

And again, the fact he’s doing this while making a record about ghosts is that much more compelling. He’s taking a horror/scary narrative incorporating into an immersive rap experience and adding a few hand features to further enhance the tracks! This man is playing 4D chess with a concept I haven’t seen anyone else pull off like the before!
Because as I said this ain’t a horrocore album, don’t expect -Twisted Insane when you see this record it’s just a straight Hip-Hop album with Horror elements and how he makes it work is incredible!

In the MC front, he’s as natural as they come. In the creative front he’s unlike anyone I’ve come across yet and from the conceptual front this is one of the smartest and well crafted ideas I’ve seen in a minute! From the lethal features to the lavish and hard hitting production this one is definitely a hidden gem I’m glad to have discovered!