Smith’s music, while perhaps challenging for some listeners, draws clear parallels to the work of artists like Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, Knxwledge, and Clams Casino. These artists are known for their atmospheric,sample-heavy production and lo-fi aesthetic. Smith expands on these techniques, prioritizing a textured, frequently enough hazy soundscape. His approach echoes the beat tapes of knxwledge and Clams Casino, and shares a similar sonic world with Mercury’s MERCZONE, with whom Smith has collaborated on tracks like “Pound” featuring Na-kel Smith. Moreover, smith’s vocal style, characterized by a mumble rap delivery, can be seen as a lo-fi counterpart to the noise rap gaining popularity with artists like Che and OsamaSon, prioritizing atmosphere over pristine audio quality.
Throughout the album, Smith’s fluid vocal rhythms and frequent use of repetition create a hypnotic affect. This is notably effective on more subdued tracks like “CREMATE” and “NO ACT,” while providing a counterpoint to the more energetic tracks like “LESSONS” and “WALK THE PLANK.” He demonstrates a deliberate variation in his vocal delivery across songs; while loops and cadences may share similarities, they are distinct enough to avoid monotony. This attention to detail enhances the album’s overall depth, offering more range than its 32-minute length might initially suggest.
Worth a look