Son Of Alice

It’s been a quiet minute since I last covered this artist. Introduced to me thanks to the one and only Ceverely Yours and now it’s time to deep dive into his extensive discography and see what he has to offer! So with that in mind let’s talk about it! This is the 2022 album by MC -Maine The Medicine and it features production from -DJ Gatsby -Leadgeon -Joe Loftus -Native Seal -ThisIsHipHop -Dray Yard -Cuts from DJ Black Magic and features from -Leadgeon -TySoul -Amanda Rogan -Gutter Brown -Holla Da Scholar -Mercy -Khali Hustle -Ed Cuozzo -Blaq Poet -UG -Ace Suspect -Tone Liv -Wig And with such a huge roster you’d think there’s no way they can mess it up and you’d be right because even with the large amount of players it sounds as fluent as you’ll hear a record. If we start with Maine. It feels damn near therapeutic for me to be able to hear a full length solo album by him so I can hear how he operates working on his own and it turns out he’s quite the deep, introspective and vivid in his utilisation of his creative story telling, his approach to letting his emotions out across the various skits and really latch on to the audience’s heart to create a unique and captivating listening experience! Across these 16 tracks with almost an hour of run time we hear Maine constantly switching up lanes between early 2000’s thug love poems to 1990’s brash street talk to sensitive and revealing insight into his life (such is the case strongest on the skit -Son Of Alice) where he describes all the stuff his mum did for him. Very heavy stuff But the fact he’s able to incorporate so many different characteristics in one album is hella impressive! He’s like a walking, breathing hip hop jukebox that you can expect any and all styles inside of it! Of course besides that we have a man who has a strong upfront take on his performances, a sharp pen, on point flow and a conviction most lack. Even when he’s just talking brash shit it sounds compelling because of the heaviness he brings attached to every word! That combined with the above qualities and you have an MC that’s a problem to deal with! Also to mention his incredible chemistry with the various singers, producers and MC’s he’s brought together. Each has their own feel, strengths and skills that makes every track feel unique in their own way! On the production side of things. We have that collection of beat makers who surprisingly are able to create a strong and synchronous rhythm across each song. There isn’t any song that stands out for the worst as an awkward transition across the 16 which is a good sign! and each producer shines and highlights their skills on the album! For example we have tracks like -Eat which has this sharp and unforgiving sound that includes those heavy thudding drums, droning synth chords that actually sounds like a distorted flute! That’s all combined with some bass strings to make this a minimal yet satisfyingly powerful track that is perfect for the cypher style track they executed with this beat! There’s the track -Pain which instantly takes me back to the early 2000’s Kanye chipmunk era that combines that luscious chipmunk melody combined with some subtle keys, a second layer choir vocal sample and some truly mesmerising drum patterns that sound ever so smooth! This is a time capsule in a can that will make you feel like a a teenager again! In fact the track right after (which is technically a skit but fuck it) the instrumental is incredible! It’s a hypnotic Jazz feel track with nothing but those sensual drum beats and heavy lively piano keys! Again not much to it but it’s sometimes the most stripped back that does the best job! This reminds me of some Herbie Hancock shit! I suppose if any track would have to be pointed too as ‘oh that’s different’ it would be -Blood Bath! This one has this ominous serial killer vibe to it lyrically and sonically there’s these theatrical violin strings, haunting subtle keys and drum work that is ever so menacing! One part I loved about this track was the same vocal sample used in Skrillex’s -Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites the classic -OH MY GOD so that was cool to hear! All in all (although I didn’t doubt) Maine in solo album mode is exceptional. He chose killer producers and his own MC work was fantastic! Give it a try!