In this article we wanna draw your attention on a vinyl release of two of the most consisting MCs the Hip Hop genre has to offer… Murs out of Los Angeles and Slug from Minneapolis, who is mainly known as the lyricist from the group Atmosphere. Together they formed the rap duo Felt dropping already 4 albums under the name.
The first 3 albums were all made by different producers:
A Tribute To Christina Ricci (2002) by The Grouch
A Tribute To Lisa Bonet (2005) by Ant
A Tribute To Rosie Perez (2009) by Aesop Rock
However beginning of August this year Felt released the standalone single “Name In Ya Mouth”. Very surpringly followed by a full length album shortly after on August 7th 2020.
The reason for how it went down is mainly caused by the spread of COVID19 because they actually had a tour planned to promote the release but then decided to spontaniously drop their fourth album named Felt 4 U
The record will be pressed on colored double disc – NOW FIRST TIME AVAILABLE ON VINYL: November 6th, 2020
Felt (Murs & Slug) - Felt 4 U [2xLP]
Vinyl Release: November 6th, 2020
Format: 2xLP
Color: Pink
Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment, Cargo
Songs: 12
Run Time: 40 mins
Including guest appearances by: Blimes, Blueprint, Aesop Rock & The Grouch
The production on this was again entirely handled by Ant who is also main part of Atmosphere and already produced Felt’s second album. Recording process goes back to June 2019 and was completely done in Slug’s basement in Minneapolis with all the artists being present. The fact that all of them were mostly in the same room during the developing process is definately felt in the music.
The album starts off with a nicely funk loaded opener which kinda gives a good introduction to the whole vibe of the record. Song goes by the name of “Never’s enough”. Title basically describes the subject matter already pretty well. Moreover lyrically it feels like the perfect representation of their work ethic. Talking about the Hip Hop game, family aspects, their ambitions as an MC and the constant drive towards improvement.
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Further on “Trees” is a song where the two trade verse for verse having a dope conversation about herbs. Another powerful cut is called “Alexander F’real” where the two just statin’ facts on an incredible production that’s creating a feeling of boom bap in its elements.
Besides those more energetic productions the album also features mellow instrumentals where Ant is setting a more smooth tone overall. For example: “Underwater”, “Through The Night” or “Crimson Skies” – A song about loss and how to deal with it.
“Sticks And Stones” is a song about violence. Murs goes in first rapping about guns ending his verse with an unexpected plot twist. Slug describing the life of a typical young American and how tools changed over the years…
“Sticks And Stones” is a song about violence. Murs goes in first rapping about guns ending his verse with an unexpected plot twist. Slug describing the life of a typical young American and how tools changed over the years…
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A true highlight that really sticks out is the song “Hologram” which has a powerful beat combined with a political subject matter and kinda feels like a reunion because it features all the producers that ever produced for Felt. Meaning guest appearances from The Grouch and Aesop Rock.
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“Crimson Skies” and “Borboleta”, which means butterfly in Portuguese, are kinda the outro of the album closing the project flawlessly by pointing out real aspects of life and motivating to push forward.
Overall Ant perfectly blends the voices of Murs and Slug while they reflect on various topics like personal matters, violence, politics, cultural change, optimism or taking us to journeys in their younger days.
It was one of those releases that were definately unexepcted but more than needed. Felt 4 U is the long awaited continuation and pretty much meets the current zeitgeist.
Especially in this constellation. Looking at Murs transformation from seeing the world as a Crip to a more reflectional grown man view. Over to Ant’s great variety of productions who took his beat game to whole different level and created a foundation to vividly display the chemistry between the three.
Tracklist:
1. Never’s Enough
2. Find My Way
3. Don’t Do Me Like That
4. Trees
5. Through The Night
6. Freeze Tag
7. Sticks & Stones
8. Underwater (feat. Blimes)
9. Alexander F’real
10. Hologram (feat. The Grouch & Aesop Rock)
11. Crimson Skies (feat. Shepard Albertson alias Blueprint)
12. Borboleta
