I don’t say this often, but this is exactly the project that Yo! X needed. The SE Portland trapper has shown promise for years, but seems to have really dialed in recently.
The D$C squad mainstay has been electric at shows as of late, and his new project with PDX-area producer Bravo Domo is flame. It starts with the production really. Domo does a great job setting the pace and mood of the album, catering to X’s rough voice and slow drawl. The crump-dancing beatsmith always stays to his roots though, and even his darkest beats make you want to bust a move.
The 6-track EP (5 if you don’t count the intro) wastes no time impressing. I’ve seen Stunt & Flex live enough times to know the words, and the Nate G assisted show cut gets this project off to a great start. The bouncy South Paw Flow shows X’s more playful side, working effectively as a stance change before he brings out Nyce for an absolutely destructive verse for my favorite track, On My Set. (Disclaimer: I’ve been waiting to hear that one again since they performed it at TheTHESIS in February.) Conversely, X slows it out one time on my least favorite track, Bitches, but closes strong with the intensely focused Real God Body.
Definitely worth the 16 minute play time, and Stunt & Flex and On My Set need to be in your playlists. Glad to see Yo! X showing growth on this new drop. Very interested to see where he goes from here.