Willie The Kid and V Don are back for the second time this year with “Blue Notes” the follow up to there critically acclaimed “Deutsche Marks”. Don and Willie have seemed to refine what was already an effectual pairing into something unerring in its presentation. “Blue Notes” sounds like niggas in Ukraine, a web of street lyricism over eerie production.
The Ep opens with a pertinent intro from a newscaster reporting on multiple storms, which alludes to the artists dropping the project amidst “Deustche Marks” still ravaging Hip Hop Heads’ ears. “Blue Notes” is a squall of an offering; the duo sent warning of its intensity just a month ago with the release of “Propaganda” as a single. Willie spitting “Harlod Melvin Blue Notes my bullets sing” is a synopsis of everything that constitutes the project, his Ok corral bars floating over V Don’s loops of bold piano chords. But if you thought the title “Propaganda” would be any indication that they released that record first to mislead the audience then you got it fucked up because Don and Willie maintain pole position for the entirety of the project. Unafraid to share post the pair invite Da$h who’s fresh off his “Loose Skrew” release to reinforce that they’re the “Coldest”. We all know those lower temps can make you sick and Da$sh medicates his way through a guest spot spitting “ Trying stack it like Elon Musk, need a Tesla truck same color elephant tusk”. As Willie chants at closing “This shit cold”; it’s clear that statement is multifaceted, as the entire Ep feels tailored for headphones took beneath a hoody.
With no filler present in the brief but dense “Blue Notes”, Willie and V Don work sounds as if they pushed them singing cats away from the barrel on New Jack city, and started spitting; to put it plainly the shit is lit, dope even; like the product sold at the Carter. Dope lyrics, dope rhymes, and excellent song arrangement; no wonder Willie felt it was a “Race Against Time” on the last track “explosive poly-methane, hydrocarbon, I put your face on milk cartoon, pardon my jargon” yeah that fucking barrel just blew. Cancel that Christmas music “Blue Notes” is the sound for the season; a project that feels like winter and hot enough to keep shit warm during this cold period.
-Matthew Carroll
