As we dive into Mr. Crawford’s musical universe, we learn that he’s been making music since 2001 and that he calls Boston home. That tracks with everything we hear in ‘First High’: marking the talented producer’s latest effort, the record feels incredibly old-school and nostalgic, an EP firmly planted in hip-hop tradition and positive storytelling. Oscillating between boom-bap and more soulful pieces, ‘First High’ is a joy to listen to; we’d describe the listening experience as effortless… no friction in sight, this is a record we wish would never end.
It’s not always the case with modern hip-hop, where things can sometimes feel a tad more chaotic and striking. Here, Mr. Crawford and longtime collaborator Alex McQueen do a wonderful job of balancing intensity and softness. For instance, opener ‘Gripe With Your Reflection’ playfully contrasts with ‘Wait & See’, much more rooted in R&B and jazz-like harmonies. Also known as DOPEamine, Crawford and McQueen appear to share a heavy artistic alchemy, and their musical output is undoubtedly first class.
Production aside, ‘First High’ contains a great deal of deep lyricism and introspective rapping. For instance, the previously mentioned ‘Gripe With Your Reflection’ explores “the internalised see-saw effect with good and evil within oneself… a raw, hard-hitting picture of when logic meets contradiction”, as we are told. If you are looking for a meaningful and elegant hip-hop EP, you just found it.
Recommended! Discover ‘First High’ now: