Magnifique
By
Mick Swagger
UK Rapper/Producer Mick Swagger is quickly making a name for
himself on the UK scene. I first saw him in 2019 at the B-Line Recordings
Rope-A-Dope event in Bristol where he impressed with his style and wordplay,
especially during an open mic cipher.
Magnifique is his second album, the first being
2019’s Villianaire which was entirely produced by the man himself. For
Magnifique he has brought in two of the most respected beat makers out there in
Farmabeats (UK) and Nicholas Craven (Canada) but, not just that, there are also
a number of notable features to add that extra element and those featuring are
Twizzy, Doc Terror, Brotherman, DJ Mad Handz, CL BRKS, Micall Parknsun, COSM
and George Bucks.
If you have heard Villianaire or Mick’s other releases
(Swaggerahki EP with Hiarahki & Stock Market EP with Pri-D) or caught him
on a feature (such as COSM & Micall Parknsun’s Aspetta) then you will be
eager to hear this one. If your unlucky enough to not have heard Mick yet, then
I urge you to get acquainted with his music…
Anyway, before I get off track, let’s get into Magnifique:
The first four tracks are produced by Farmabeats…
Jesus in Adidas drops with some laid-back drums and
an almost middle east vibe. This mixed with Mick’s slick wordplay immediately
gets your attention and you can’t help but, slowly nod ya head while Mick flips
it like the second coming on the Hip Hop tip and turning all you non-believers
into believers. Up next is the title track and the heavy beat with flute and
guitar over it puts you into an almost dreamlike state which allows you to
focus on Mick’s lyrical flow and, as he creates a wealth of visions in your
mind, you understand why putting Mick Swagger on you beat makes it Magnifique.
You might still be sat in your seat but, now the beat is
pounding and head nod, mixed with some flute and violin which transports you to
an opium den in Sherlock Holmes era and as you float along this etheric plain
Micall Parkunsun joins Mick Swagger to deliver some of those Bars For Life.
The last track from Farmabeats is on that Posse cut vibe with a heavy beat and
some angelic vocals. Mick is joined by COSM, George Bucks, Twizzy, Doc Terror,
Brotherman and DJ Mad Handz. The track sees each emcee Buss Fire, like
they are loading up catapults with pure lyrical fire, then unleashing them on
your ears, which means you can hear it coming but, you can’t stop the
inevitable, and if that was not enough DJ Mad Handz rounds things off with a
deadly volley of flame tipped arrow like cuts.
The remainder of the album is produced by Nicholas Craven…
Following that pounding to end the first half of the album
you are aroused by an upbeat vibe infused with a mariachi style guitar which
perfectly matches Mick as he takes us through music story telling whist
reminding us of one thing, to shut the fuck up while We’re Talking. Love
for you has a more Jazzy piano vibe and features CL BRKS and Micall
Parknsun on a track that explores all the things and people we love in life,
the kind of things that complete us and make us whole.
Mover has a soulful jazz vibe and looks at the ways
people make moves in life, the kinda moves that help us just get by or make
something of ourselves. It’s all about waiting for that right moment and then
seizing it. From a jazz vibe to a more laid-back funk driven feel as Donuts
looks at al those little things that we enjoy and that make us feel good and it
is that feel good vibe is what its all about. The track rounds off with Mick
giving some well-deserved shout outs.
The album rounds off with a bonus track. The Next
Dimension is proper soulful, funk fuelled, head nod, body moving track and
on this one Mick is doing exactly what the tracks suggests and is taking those
bars to a new dimension. So, just carry on kicking back and letting your mind
wander…
It seems to me that one of the good things to come out of
the current world situation and being locked down so much is that it is giving
artists time to produce some outstanding work and Mick Swagger is no exception.
Magnifique is a quality piece of Hip Hop. Its deep laid-back vibe means that it
will permeate every cell of your body regardless of where you are when you’re
listening to it. You might be in the car, out for a walk or chilled out at home
with a beer or enveloped in a purple haze, this one suits it all, if you ask
me…
While Mick’s voice and style are all his own, with his
captivating use of similes and seamless wordplay, it does fit perfectly with
the likes of COSM and George Bucks and Mick has joined these two to form the
Ant Hill Mobb, so be sure to keep watch for these guys in the future. But let’s
not take anything away from Mick, he has brought in two top producers who have
crafted a musical sound scape that flows perfectly from start to finish and is
the perfect platform for Mick and those guest artists all of whom add their own
individual spark to the project which, combined with Mick Swagger, lights the
whole project and lets it smoulder away in your consciousness.
This is definitely not one to miss and as we recover from
the effects of these global issues, albums like this will continue to set the
bar ever higher by drawing on real life whilst looking between the lines and
inviting people to think for themselves and look deeply at what is going on
around them and to openly question the current paradigm…
Magnifique by Mick Swagger is available from today.
Thanks for reading,
On that note,
I’m Out.
Steve
LINK
Buy Magnifique on Bandcamp Here:
https://mickswagger.bandcamp.com/album/magnifique
VIDEO
We're Talking Official Video (Live at 18:00 26th March 2021)
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