Brimming with infectious vocal flows and a dynamic array of beats — from brassy invigoration to dreamy soulfulness — The Impressionist is an immersive hip-hop album from Mic Nickels and Kiza. The collaboration from New York-based rapper Mic Nickels and Serbian beatmaker Kiza emphasizes the duo’s tremendous talents, deftly balancing Mic Nickels’ grippingly introspective lyricism and sharp vocal flows with Kiza’s eclectic grasp of rhythms and soundscapes.
The project marks continued success from Mic Nickels, who followed up an 8+-year residency in NYC with a band by releasing Bars for Days in 2021. Amongst that album’s successes was “El Matador,” which featured Method Man and caught our ears with its brass-y beat and captivating overall sound. The Impressionist is his latest album, and succeeds across all 8 tracks.
Opening track “Relic” pushes forward with a cinematic-feeling grandiosity. A choir-like vocal backing melds with an old-school hip-hop nostalgia and brass-y illumination. Mic Nickels cautions “all you can do is brace for the worst, keep up with the pace,” whilst depicting continuing to ascend in situations where others falter; there’s a compelling sense of confidence and bravado in the lyrical output, furthered by a beat from Kiza that compels in its steady rhythmics and throwback-feeling samples.
Another standout, “Grade A Sticky” traverses across initial piano glistening and ensuing twangy guitar delights. “Give me a ring, I’ll be down at the corner spot doing my thing,” Mic Nickels lets out with faultless precision, hypnotic in its overall delivery. Vintage vocal soul samples and a rhythm-focused momentum stirs on “The 10th Dimension,” also consuming in its shifting from fantastic rapping and old-school sample infusions. A dreamier, jazz-touched appeal shows on “In The Water,” dazzling particularly in the title-touting contemplation and ghostly vocal samples. The Impressionist is an enthralling hip-hop success from Mic Nickels and Kiza.
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“Relic” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
