(MALUKUMELLO)

I can’t tell you how hyped I got when I first saw this announced on Jackpot Records. Two of my favourite artists in the game right now coming together for one epic album? The answer is simply yes and will always be yes! Fuck it, let’s get into it! This is the brand-new album by MC -Swaello of the infamous twin duo -THEMELLOS and producer SOUL LA FLARE that features -INF -Al DIVINO-NYEUSI LOE and together they drop this bombastic 10-track piece of art that is sure to trigger the senses like reminiscing on the lost era of the Sour Diesel strain! Let’s talk about why. I want to start with the MC side of things. You know it can be so easy to take this man as a default plural situation due to just how prolific and talented he and his brother are, but it’s only when I heard his album -MALAKIMELLO that I was like ‘oh shit, here’s the full picture, this is what his solo shit can sound like’ and since then I’ve been excited about the concept of new individual tapes, and this right here is another prime example of just how talented he is! On this record, we hear Swaello on his magnum opus-type shit. You can tell this tape was different from that tribal-themed intro track that proceeds into his diverse spectrum of talents as a performer. Whether that be in his more melodic singing style, we see him execute on the opening track and scattered throughout the album. Or in his ruthless, cutthroat street poetry that’s simultaneously combined with his smooth splash-free freelance approach that makes him the verbal assassin striking the beat with bars before you even had time to blink! This man has an incredible charisma and wavy aura. He’s not just rapping on this album; he’s leaving 10 bits of his own personality and cadence across the 10 tracks. He doesn’t have a traditional pattern or set-up for his verses; he runs on his own rhythm that forces you to mean-mug his wordplay and leave in awe at his superior penmanship! I love how he sets up 90% of his bars too! The ‘Ayo Ayo Ayo!’ You hear that Adlib and you just know you’re in for some of the dopest bars you’ll hear in your life! If he was an anime character, he’d for sure be Killer Bee! A dope lyricist with the energy of an 8-tails beast! And has no problem soloing a battle all on his own (but just like Fourth Raikage), will turn the world to flames when pairing with his brother! Now, talking about anime characters. If that shit was real, there’s no way SOUL LA FLARE ain’t Kenpachi! Because his sonic spiritual pressure is so violent, heavy, and chaotic that it forces the people around him to level up just to be in his presence! Anyone I’ve ever heard spit on a SOUL Project ends up giving me the best verses I’ve heard from them, period. He’s really that guy. Talking about that intro track -M-BTA that starts off with the combination of lucid jazz horns, plucked strings, and those tribal chants that set the tone of the album! There’s also the latter introducing what sounds like classical vocal snippets to further push the texture! Going from there, we have tracks like -RIDINGTHISWAVE which has this methodically charged distorted sonic euphoria with those eerie piano keys, sombre vocal snippets in that high pitch, and hypnotic drums that come together in one of the more vivid melody-based tracks we have on the whole album! We can talk about the track -SLEEPYHOLLOW which to me has one of the more acid trip-type vibes with those groovy drum style rhythms that sound like bongos that’s combined with those sharp chord progressions and thick bass that penetrate the ears! Also having the addiction of INF on the feature to kill the second half! Or the song -S15SILVA with as they say ‘that wavy shit’ as you combine that almost surf rock inspired plucked strings that ends in that high pitch pluck that reminds me of that sub genre! That’s combined with a consistent loop of synth and heavy bass! There’s also the light vocal harmony that fades into the background! One of the more minimal tracks but it hits as hard as any! My favourite bar of the project? -I have a long nose like Bob Saget. Epic. If you ain’t on this vibe then you don’t know the meaning of it! Two of the dopest to do it coming together to build on their strength! So go listen, buy and support!