INCOGNITO GRINDERS (Prod. SKINZMANN) - OLS Review

It's time to delve in the underground's darkest depths of grime and trap. Skinzmann comes blasting from the shadows with a posse of rough-round-the-edge MCs over a compendium of atmospheric beats in his latest release; INCOGNITO GRINDERS.

This twenty-two track showcase takes no shortcuts in painting a picture of the South West's Rap scene when the lights are turned down, or rather smashed out. The synths and the occasional flow of hats are the only things here you can describe as smooth. All else comes cutting in like a shattered bottle! Drums sound clear-cut and unobstructed with deep kicks and high-pitched snares and claps, teamed up with a deep bass and usually high-end, simplistic loops to keep the mid-range unobstructed for the MCs to fill - which they do 100%.

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Samples of analogue instruments are very much absent here - no calls back to the days when music had to sound pretty. A minimalistic set of clean midis are carefully selected and layered to build up an atmosphere feeling large, encircling and claustrophobic. Perfectly framing each MC who delivers a verse that draws a vivid puzzle-piece of life in the UK's urban environments. From the constant graft of getting money in to supply a hectic lifestyle in GET THE BREAD, to getting too waved in the nightlife of said lifestyle in CERTY, there are too many stories to consider a stone unturned. The mood does take a moment to lift a little bit in NOVOCANE, and in INCOGNITO GRINDERS practically feels above the clouds, but it makes sure not to deviate from the signature style. And just in case you did think the album was changing from there, HETTY plays next to Suplex you right back into the darkness of a deep hole of substance abuse! The album was recorded, produced in Exeter with all MC's local to the run down city, so you know you're being welcomed to it by the locals.

​Each track brings a consistent flow and throughout the album it really doesn't stop. Right from the Intro to the Outro you'll be compelled to move as any sense of stillness just feels vulnerable. But you'll unlikely find this an issue as each track gets you pumped. Whatever you need to get psyched up for, INCOGNITO GRINDERS is an album that will help out a lot. Make sure to grab yourself a copy on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music or Bandcamp on the 19th of September 2019!

 - Fire@Will OneLionSound