The duo are back and with more collaborations
When two things come together and create something amazing, there’s no reason that they should be separated. Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin’s 2020 album, Fly Siifu, was an exciting project debuting the duo as two record shop owners listening to music and talking about various topics. The sampled jazzy tracks and various interludes created an entire world for the two. Their latest EP, $mokebreak, brings people back to this world. This time around, the emphasis is on their many features and the production rather than the record shop itself.
“Blame,” which is produced by Black Noi$e, includes a sampled loop that feels hypnotizing throughout while the rappers’ words match. “L’s” features Fousheé, who also was on the previous project. An echoing trill loop holds the main melody over a simple jazzy drum pattern. Fousheeé’s breathy vocals match the eerie production. The title track also includes this hypnotic production. Instead of the beat being the cause of the illusory effect in this track, the many vocals are the reason. Between the reverbed background vocals over the main ones with slight pitch adjustments on certain tracks, it feels like the start of a very calm high.
Continuing the haziness is “Oatmeal” which features, and is produced by, Chuck Strangers. The groovy piano-led loop is ornamented with a percussive rattle. This creates a lightness and reminiscent vibe that matches the lyrical content. A line from Anakin saying, “forward-thinking for me to dollars,” a line from Chuck Strangers saying, “Talked to God and I forgave him for the way he had us living,” and Siifu’s, “Whatever happen new chapters I’m just crumblin herb. It is what it is let God do the work” demonstrates the feeling of looking back and giving thanks to where they are now.
“Shawty” is a smooth and spaced-out track with a keyboard playing the same two chords on a loop. Siifu mumbles melodically, allowing Anakin and the feature, Big Kahuna OG, to flow effortlessly over it. “Tha Divide” is the stand-out track with features including, Zelooperz, MAVI and Koncept Jack$on. They all bring a different dynamic on the looped horn and drumbeat. The music video shows each rapper and brings the trippiness from the rest of the tracks into the minimalistic visual. The production on “3 Dope Boys,” featuring 3WaySlim really focuses on vocals with a keyboard behind it. It’s eccentric in its way to not match up smoothly as the other tracks, but it works well, as people want to hear and capture what each artist has to say.
Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin introduced themselves as a duo in the most perfect way possible. Creating that story and sound set the tone for their future work. $mokebreak brought everything from the previous album and elevated it. With their many collaborations, the EP was cohesive and remained true to the Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin sound listeners were introduced to. $mokebreak further proves that no matter what the story or who else is involved, Pink Siifu and Fly Anakain’s sound is rich and constantly progressing.
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