LIVE AT THE TABERNACLE VOL.II

In the world of the underground, very few sequels could draw as much attention and excitement as this one. Arguably one of the best match ups in the culture who left their mark on the hip hop industry and now they’ve decided it’s time to break the silence and blow the genre up all over again! So let’s talk about it. This is the brand new album by 23 Incredible’s -Estee Nack and super producer -Mike Shabb and the pair return with a solid 13 tracks and brining along the likes of -Chris Mercedes -al divino -??? CRIMEAPPLE -Myalansky -Raz Fresco -CODENINE -Daniel Son And alongside this legendary roster this duo sets out to create a literal ‘Modern day classic’ now before I continue I want to bring attention to this line right here ‘If this rap was a sport, we playing in the World Series’ A phrase by Estee that couldn’t hold more truth if it tried. Without overestimating or bragging that’s where he and his team are right now! The leaders of the new school showing the current and future generations how to build and grow without selling your soul or losing dignity! What I’ve come to understand is that I have the gift of hindsight when it comes to Nack’s career. I didn’t follow him till very late in his career and I’ve been essentially moving backwards through his discography to see his career from now backwards and I’ve noticed Depending on the producer/s he decides to work with per album he unlocks a different sound. Whether it’s Divino or V-Don or BONEWESO or True Cipher or Mr Rose or whoever else you want to mention Estee brings a different side of him for each beat maker he’s aligned with. But In my opinion (outside of Divino) Mike is the one producer that can make Estee push himself to his utmost creative and innovative potential! There are cuts and stylistic choices on this one that I couldn’t see Nack trying and executing the way he is with SHABB’s production. For example tracks like -ESTUPIDO or -AFFAIRSINARGENTINA where we hear Estee more harmonious then I’ve ever heard him prior showing his impressive singing chops that lowkey make me feel like I’d want a full sing song style album from him one day! On the first track especially reminded me of something in between The Fugees and Bob Marley in the way he orchestrates his harmonies! See I’m trying not to repeat the same points and references I always highlight regarding an Estee album but to me when he’s with Shabb it’s not just a case of ‘Yes he’s rapping good’ because at this point in his career any drop that’s a given. But I truly believe Mike unlocks a specific direction and thought process for Nack to help him visualise certain rhyming patterns or mini conceptual tracks that burst into In depth lyricism and lines that you just don’t hear on other records. I also love the fact that across anything he’s on he’s always bringing with him either his own brothers in the 23 stable or his close associates. He’s the definition of a Shepard that never leaves his flock behind no matter his popularity or growth he’s always using his own opportunities to further push those around him and it’s a mentality I wish everyone had like he does! As I expressed in the Vol 1 review I do believe Shabb has the uncanny ability to bring sounds and production to life. A man who can turn any sample and influence into a memorable lifetime score and on this sequel I feel he did find a way (although different then the first) to catch lighting in the bottle for a second time. In the same essence of me describing how Estee on Shabb production is able to create mini conceptual tracks I feel the same goes for the producer himself who In my opinion created 13 individual pockets of musical sequences that just happen to have a sprinkle of Hip Hip alignment inside of them. From tracks like -MADPHILOSOPHIES which feels like a deep cut from the ‘TRIPLE BLACK DIAMONDS II’ Era Album with Al Divino returning on the cut to dwell in that distorted Jazz Chaos orchestrated in that messy and hypnotic fashion with those Jazz Chords, cerebral drum beats, and that re occurring strings that come back every 5 seconds or! The song -WINTERMISSION is another example of Shabb teleporting the listener to a brand new soundscape adventure! This one takes you to the 1950’s swing era but your stuck in a time loop that’s filled with more distorted horns, hypnotic bass strings, minimal and mesmerising drums that provide the disorienting skeleton to the track! There’s also some truely eerie piano keys underneath the rest of the instruments! Already mentioned but the song -ESTUPIDO is truly a spectacle in redefining the meaning of ‘Re Invention’ because once again Shabb zaps us all to a new audio reality where the forest is green, the air is fresh and the vibes are beautiful! From those lucid horns going off in that mesmerising fashion that’s combined with those underlying chords that have a rough rigid edge to them alongside some sporadic drum patterns that add a bombastic nature to the track! I also love he includes some light and glistening keys throughout the song for a bit of soft texture inclusion! Also have to mention the way the track closes? The one minute of possibility the most somber yet beautiful vocals I’ve heard this year. No matter how many times I replay it, it still gives me goosebumps! It’s played over some spoken word snippet which itself is over some ambient style production! As expected. A strong contender for ‘Album Of The Year’ when these two come together it’s never your everyday experience, nah son they in the ‘MODERN DAY CLASSIC’ territory! Yes this is a Bandcamp exclusive which means YES you’ll have to pay the fee for it but real art is worth paying for!