I don’t think you can ask for a better start to the year than this producer had. Kicking things off with a critically acclaimed sequel and without any time lapsing, he’s back to keep up the grind this time with an MC I may have been unfamiliar with until now but one that didn’t take long to impress me, and with that said, let’s talk about it!
This is the brand-new album between MC LOZEE and Producer Mike Martinez, and together they drop a solid nine tracks with 25 minutes of content that the culture wishes they could follow up on!
If we start with the production side of things, we get to discuss Martinez. A man who has made a house name for himself by creating dope beats just like these! One of the most consistent out there, and he’s back to showcase just why he’s earned every second of that acclaim!
We have so many magnificent moments of modern-day boom-bap elevated! Such as tracks like
– Blank State that has one of the most hypnotic loops you’ll hear in a minute. You’ve got various layers such as those long chord progressions combined with those plucked strings and groovy drum beats that all come together to create a head-banging instrumental that you’ll find yourself unable to prevent mean-mugging and bopping your neck too! Feels like a homage to the golden 90’s East Coast shit! Absolutely hectic!
Hell, can we talk about the track right after? – PLANET & MARS as we see Martinez incorporate those sticky guitar strings alongside these sharp chords that come in and out every few seconds!
There’s also some progressions with piano keys in two different shades and tones to create that extra layer of texture!
Also, can’t forget those bass lines and drums that provide a kind of skeleton to the whole affair!
Or let’s talk about the track – THE DIFFERENCE which has a more mellow and harmonious tone to it with those flute-sounding samples on a loop accompanied by some more lively strings that subtly go off in the background! Also, some extremely subtle drum notes in the back of the song!
Although one of the more bare offerings on the album, those flute sounds give an atmosphere that makes all the difference! (There’s also some light vocal snippets added in towards the end of the song) that you really have to pay attention to, to catch!
If we’re talking about the MC work. As I said, he was unknown to me at first, but after hearing this album, he’s officially on my must-listen checklist. Why? First of all, he has a certain gritty charisma that’s soaked in passion and conviction that makes you hang on every single word he spits! He has a level of confidence in his performance that makes you feel his authenticity and organic love for the game that he wears on his sleeve!
Across this tape, he doesn’t waste any time; it’s like he wants to demonstrate his talent and skills and use this album as his stepping stone to greater things (and I mean to use Martinez’s beats to do so is the smartest thing I can think of).
Regardless, he’s throwing his heart into his pen and using the blood to craft an extraordinary pen game that is ruthless and technical all in one!
He’s able to be fluent enough to create phenomenal chemistry with Mike and let his verses and lyricism be the catalyst that sparks the production itself into a new atmosphere!
I love how he made sure no one else is with him on this album. (I’m sure he would have had dope energy with others as well), but it makes that much more of a statement when an artist provides he can rock a record by himself, no help! That’s a true testament to a MC, and he passed with flying colours!
You must be tripping if you ain’t gonna check this one out! It’s got substance for days, beats for weeks, and lyricism for a lifetime!
https://open.spotify.com/album/6uo1MRluzeUOhxD3ZEHD6y?si=dalzX3KbTYuM0vnHJdd3jQ










