For me personally I don’t enjoy listening to rap I can’t understand. The reason I didn’t f*** with this album initially was because at 23 minutes there’s no room for wasted landscape on the album and there was a skit and a few verses that weren’t in English, the droog track was kinda meh, the rest was nice, but at 23 minutes I needed perfection tbh

Idk man it sounded like he mastered it on Fromaj. I just think that beat was a poor choice for a posse cut tbh, too hard to rap on

nahhh fromaj is elite, one of my favorite mach/juju/fahim cuts, each verse/hook carries into the next perfectly

that's kinda ignorant my man as a comp lit student I really appreciate the tasteful mixing of languages, and the Creole, Chinese and Russian on that track came together pretty well imo. On my revisit today I actually quite liked both Cloud Dracula and Poor House (which to me is the lowpoint)

yeah a user on rym I value loves it too, maybe it'll still grow on me I was always kinda lukewarm-appreciative of Droog (actually listened to him since ppl thought he was Nas but never quite became a fan), though through his work with Mach I'm slowly starting to like him a bit more

you my man but hold off on that “you’re ignorant, and I’m in academia, so I’m more cultured than you” talk, not coming off how you think it does man. I studied English + writing but I certainly don’t flex it in that way

I understand dude’s inability to enjoy non-English rap. It’s obviously a barrier and not everyone consumes music the same way, no need to put him down for that

That is all to say that that borderline-elitist talk is dangerous territory

Also Pour House is my jam

Steppin outside of ya lane is similar to steppin off a cliff OFF RIP

rly wasn't supposed to be elitist at all. I'm not saying he's "wrong" for not enjoying it or wasn't even trying to flex (honestly I'm not enough of a fan of my uni to attempt that lol), I'm just stating where my strong standing on this comes from.

I strongly think that it's ignorant to dislike things in other languages on principle, that's what I was criticizing. I also think that English has become a very overwhelming language which is basically trying to "monopolize" the world, and with rap being the most popular music in the world that's one tool to push this influence further. So I think it's basically the role of the avant-garde in rap to help push multi-culturalism and I appreciate Mach a lot for this

edit: basically in my view English is a lowkey oppressing language, and being open to different languages and through that cultures is very important right now - generally, to be open to look outside of your think-bubbles

I’m not disliking it on principle, but I can’t f*** with something that I don’t understand a word of, it’s not exactly like opera where you can appreciate the voice regardless of language, it’s not like they’re showcasing anything other than words, and if I can’t understand the words it doesn’t mean anything to me. Academically I’ve always been more science vs literature but I’ve done 6 years university and I have Dr. In front of my name so I’m not exactly stupid
It’s all love though

lol I really wasn't trying to say you're stupid at all Some of my favorite, smartest friends are ignorant too in certain regards sometimes. And I know what's considered ignorant and what isn't is still an opinion at the end of the day.

And personally I disagree, rap is literature too but it's still music first. It's rythmic and expressive vocal performances, even melodic in subtle ways. I love some French rap a lot too even though my French is still terrible. Lyrics are important but they're not necessarily essential.

When I first fell in love with rap my English was terrible too and I still couldn't stop listening to it and even memorized the sound of a verse without being able to memorize all the words. I still don't always understand all the words and have to look up lyrics for some lines.

It’s all good bro, no offence taken
That’s where we’ll have to agree to disagree, same reason I don’t like rappers who mumble, lyrics are pretty much top priority for me with a song.

ayy good to hear that, I don't judge that at all I can even feel you because even outside of rap (and possibly because of rap?) lyrics are really important to me and most of my favorite musicians are great writers too. In that regard I often see languages I don't understand as a blessing tbh, because it allows me to enjoy it more simply as music.

being french it makes me appreciate mach even more... but i get what you mean, like i can't really cope if i bump into someone kickin in german or dutch

nevertheless as the west indies culture is obviously a big part of mach's persona, i can only invite you to get into it cuz, you're in for a real trip

we gonna have to agree to disagree on this one haha... for me he's skippin off like crazy. the one track i got on top of my head where he makes his creole slides nicely is anacaona on kill em all, next to that vato homie

still love fromaj, altho mainly cause i'm a sucker for juju, plus that sweet organ/xylophone loop

I know you didn't intend to put dude down, was just pointing out that that behavior can easily come off like that

Idk, I mean as far as rap goes, I'm automatically less invested if I don't understand what's being said, especially as someone (like you) who really cares about lyrics. Mach's the exception

And I completely agree with that last point man––the breadth of Mach's cultural references and command of different languages is mad commendable

Oh y’all debating debating

So you're telling me you dont like Bon Apres Midi where he's singing in creole?

This is one of the all time worst fit pics ever lmfao

Jah-Monte’s debut beat tape:
kingcallis.bandcamp.com/track/the-seven-principles-loop-tape

GOAT track

That song is kinda half and half and the beat is nice, plus the first verse is pretty melodic, so yeah I f*** with that one

You know what I’m most excited about re: this Griselda resolution?
It’s Conway and Hommy, pipe up
Like with Droog, I feel like Mach brings something special out of Conway whenever they collab. And speaking of YOG, we can also get back to songs like this now:

And please don’t forget Droog made this beat:

Now that Con has leveled up his pen game a bit im excited to see some follow-up to Midnight Xpress. Never was in love with his verse on there