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(Photo By Sound Cloud)
“La$t Day” (previous review)
Alabama’s own Rod McCoy finally graced his supporters with his Smoke And Murals EP a couple of weeks ago. The EP is a six track refresher course in what Rod has to offer as a solo emcee. Additionally, there is a nice little selection of guest artists as well as producers. The brief album is said to contain jazzy boom-bap instrumentals with subject matter ranging from gang violence to hustling to everyone’s favorite girl, Mary Jane. “La$t Day” is the lead single from the collective and readers can check out the site’s take on it above. After the break, readers can get a feel for a few other numbers that happen to successfully hold their own.
“Urban Culture”
This is the first full length track on the EP. J1K serves as the producer behind this cut. The production here is plentiful. The hefty base, practical secondary ingredients, mid-tempo pace, and contemplative vibe work charmingly together. There is no hook present. It’s a shorter piece, so that works out fine. The continuous verse is satisfactory. Rod McCoy dishes out a conversational flow, expressive wordplay, and purposeful rhymes. He speaks on the tragic state of today’s urban society in a manner that truly hits home. Take notice as he spits: “If a hundred Black men died, ninety five was killed by the likeness and the other five by shield. So before we point the blame for the souls that’s slain, we should eliminate the code that’s bestowed in gangs. Urban culture done turned some to vultures. (…) The surface be the depth of our perception. Let’s use our mind til’ it’s potential as a weapon.” Those are some pretty momentous words being put forth right there. All in all, this track is gold and an enriching way to kick off the project.
“Tonight”
This track appears in the number six slot on the collective. It is produced by Thovo. The production here is fetching. The lightweight infrastructure, tasteful supporting details, mild mannered rhythm, and unbothered vibe make for an enjoyable pairing. The hook is adequate. The vocals are of a fair quality and the lyrics are valid. The verses are proficient. Rod McCoy supplies an inviting flow, telling wordplay, and magnetic rhymes. He does an admirable job of setting the tone for the special lady in his life for an exclusive night for two. A handful of lines to be aware of are: “It’s normally the trio where ever that we go. Riding ’round town with my beauty and my regal. My circle small as peepholes. Them fake n—as see through. AHE my migos. We smoking on that pee-yew. Them hoes wanting to be you. I can tell how they watching. Trying to get close. You pull my hand if they flocking. But you know ain’t running games or no other options.” The endearing nature of those bars right there is dope. Any lady would feel special as the subject incorporated in them. Overall, this is a fly record as well as a site favorite.
**My Two Cents: Smoke & Murals is a decent EP. Rod McCoy definitely gets his point across as it pertains to the condition of our culture, he does justice to the hustlers as well, and he nails the other topics too. Not a lot of rappers have that kind of versatility. The production is legit but could use a bit more pizzazz here and there. I get the whole smooth Southern sound but it never hurts to switch things up a little. And lyrically a couple of spots could be just a tad tighter. None of these points take away from the project though. Just a few things to consider. In the end, I think it’s a kosher way to close out the final music quarter and readers should certainly set aside some time to give it a spin. -MinM
