The two MC’s focus on the music surrounding them and not their customers
The incorporation of films within music has become increasingly common. Often times they are sampled for songs or interludes and become the inspiration for a concept. Fly Anakin and Pink Siifu are a part of this collection of artists who were inspired. The two teamed up for FlySiifu’s, where the concept is two guys who work in a record shop that discuss various topics and deal with some angry customers. This comes after the two have released projects already this year. In April, the Alabama rapper, Pink Siifu, put out NEGRO. The Virginian rapper, Fly Anakin, released two albums, At the End of the Day and The 8’s (2015-2018). With the success of their personal records, they come together with the help of various producers and features to create a cohesive and fun LP.
Starting off the album is “Kin’Tro” which is produced by Mejiwahn; it introduces the theme of the album. With a jazzy hip-hop beat, the two discuss life and experiences almost like two coworkers would do to pass the time on a slow day. “Runthafade” is produced by Lastnamedavid who gives people a jazzy beat, but also fuses it with a lo-fi trap undertone that Siifu and Anakin rap over effortlessly. “Richard Pryor” is the second single off the album and is produced by Playa Haze. With a good balance between calm and intense sounding lyricism, the two go on about hustling and how eventually that money goes away. “Uncle Sam gave me his hand I put the cash in it.” A skit from the late comedian is heard at the end to finish off the track.
“Mind Right” is the last single and is produced by former Vine comedian Jay Versace, who has been becoming a lot more known for his hand in producing. This track is a lot hazier than the other singles, almost like it is mimicking an old record. A loose piano progression, heavy bass and lack of drums allows Siifu and Anakin to have freedom in their flows. When both rapping and singing the MC’s voices mesh well with the production. A verse from Liv.e comes at the end and it’s nothing short of beautiful. Her voice blends in perfectly allowing her more poetic wordplay to balance out the bars of the others on the track. Here, they focus on what it means to get one’s mind right and focused, and how different and almost unattainable it feels.
“Clean” features Liv.e once again and is the second track produce by Lastnamedavid. It’s a lot more quicker than the track prior with the three of them. Lastnamedavid includes a light drum pattern that fills up the beat. All three artists come on the chorus, blending together nicely to let people know no matter what occurs, as long as it’s clean in the end, make it happen. “Creme’s Interlude” features Fousheé, whose voice practically melts over the track. With production from Crème, it has a groovy feel with the hi-hats, bass drum, bass guitar and electric guitar doing very minimal work.
“Time Up” is produced by Madlib and gives the most hip-hop elements within the beat and delivery. Coming in just shy of two minutes, it is a quick but great moment as the two MC’s demonstrate just how good their wordplay and flows are. “Dollar Dr. Dream” is the first single from the LP and the last in the sequence. With Animoss as the producer, there is a soft boom-bap beat and a sample from the Martin Luther King Jr episode of The Boondocks. Siifu and Anakin talk about the dreams they had, how money plays a role and how there isn’t room for mistakes. The two come together to repeat “dollar and a dream” up until the last couple seconds of the record, ending the album in a satisfying way.
Throughout the album, listeners have various skits that act as voicemails of disgruntled customers (peers of the two) of the record store. “Fly Siifu’s Voicemail” is the first skit off the LP. While this is not an angry voicemail, it is a more of a phone call promoting all the things Fly Siifu’s Records and Tapes has to offer. “One Hit Moo Skit” is the first phone call from a customer. They’ve been trying to contact the business for a few days and have been wanting specific records. “Black Bitches Matter Hoe” is a cameo from BbyMutha who is upset that her order hasn’t come in five days later. Her tone and word choice make the skit really enjoyable as she goes off about how the COVID-19 quarantine and her being a Black woman should inspire them to hurry up and provide her with her order.
“Creme’s Interlude” also includes a skit in the beginning and the end. It starts with the customer asking to pick up the record in the store. At the end, the frustration comes due to them having to be on voicemail. She goes on to state, “C’mon Pink Siifu, Fly Anakin I know you’re there. You’re not doing anything it’s a record shop. You’re fucking sitting there collecting dust.” “Pick Up TF Phone” is the last skit on the album. Instead of a customer, it seems as if it is coming from their boss who is not too pleased with losing money. It is a great ending to complete the frustrated phone calls and a nice transition into the final track.
FlySiifu’s, while talking about matters that are serious, is a fun album. The mixing of the skits within the sampled and jazzy tracks really gives that record store feel, almost as if there is a lens on the two MC’s in the store playing a track, having discussion and ignoring the phone. It is a cohesive album both lyrically and production wise. Despite being slightly different, Fly Anakin and Pink Siifu really come together greatly on FlySiifu’s.
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