Superficial

I find myself in a writing slump on occasion.

It's either the change of season's, or my personal life, or perhaps being in a musical stagnation.

Regardless of why, when I’m in that state I eventually find something like Superficial. You should, by now, be tired of having sensationalized pop garbage splashed in your face to distract you from the fact that there are rappers out there that sound like Jay, that sound like Kendrick, that aren’t getting that major push telling you THESE are the only rappers you’re allowed to hear about.

There are other options out there.

There are people putting their heart and soul into their music hoping for it to catch the right ear. They might only have a couple hundred likes or listens or views, but that doesn’t define the quality level of the music.

I have the opportunity here to tell you about Superficial’s album PHENōMENA. I am not obligated to write about this record because it hasn’t blown up yet. I have an obligation to tell you about it because it is incredible. I was blessed with the chance to come across it and it would be a great disservice to you for me to not scream its praises from the mountain tops.

“Trust, the right ear will hear it if it’s dope enough.” – from the track “Aurora”.

Superficial has a flow that is seemingly effortless but rides the beat on rails like a roller coaster. It’s refreshing to hear blends of new school and old school alike. For an old head like me it is the best of both worlds. To hear Superficial use quotes from old Snoop or Ahmad then go from there into his own flow and style is one of the things that makes PHENōMENA so addicting. Superficial makes anyone and everyone feel beautiful on tracks like “Melanin” with lines like, “be comfortable in your skin” but with an emphasis that makes you really believe. The album opens with three killer tracks going “Skywalker” to “KIDS” then “Enter The Dragon.” That combo sets a solid concrete foundation for the rest of the album.

The production quality on PHENōMENA is top shelf. It’s not some mixtape by MC Bubblesnatch that you bought off the street for two bucks, only to find out it was recorded on a two generations old iPhone, in the front seat of an ’89 Corolla during rush hour. This sounds professional. The overall vibe of it sounds creamier than the top of a fresh jar of creamy peanut butter. You know when you first peel that top foil thing off and you look at the top of the fresh jar and it’s freakishly smooth? PHENōMENA is that smooth. Well balanced, grooved out beats, well placed samples, and mixed in vocal accompaniment make this record undeniably head noddable. Is noddable a word? It’s not. It is now though.

In short, Superficial’s PHENōMENA is a full length solid to the core album. My only regret is not hearing it sooner. This is that type of record you can throw on at any time and it will set the mood for a comfortable day or a wild sex sesh. Follow the links below and get doused in its elegance. Also bro, using a clip from Napoleon Dynamite? Can we be best friends?