Basic Vocab – Straight Kemistry [EP]

In 2020, the Basic Vocab trio lost producer/group member Tony Galvin – a celebrated, versatile, and award-winning artist that was known for bridging the worlds of underground and commercial hip-hop. Two years after Galvin‘s death, group members JL Sorell and Mental Growth have linked up with producer and longtime collaborator Square4 to continue their campaign of making soul-stirring hip-hop music and carry on Galvin‘s legacy. The newly dropped Straight Kemistry EP is the second project by this trio since Tony‘s passing (following the group’s Type 3 LP from earlier this year), but it certainly doesn’t feel like a bittersweet effort to memorialize him; instead, it feels like a celebration of life and a continuation of what he and the group started years ago – making music that makes people feel good and connects with them on an emotional level.

The project opens with “Great Pretender“, a hard-thumping street-soul gem that tells a story about being on top of the world one day then falling off the next. While it serves as a great reminder of how fleeting success can be, it’s also a solid reintroduction to the group’s sound and style: a great mix of booming hip-hop with touches of crate-diggin’ soulfulness. The lead single “Nighttime” is a slick-flowing classic cut that’s perfect for cruising down the highway on a warm summer night. The track is an infectious throwback to the group’s early days, with a laid-back groove and smooth vocals from both JL and Mental Growth as well as an unnamed female vocalist.

Unlike, “Great Pretender”, this track celebrates that feeling you get when everything is going your way and you feel like nothing can dull your shine. There’s a definite “grown man business” vibe that emits from this track; from its sky-gliding production to the emcee’s breezy yet confident delivery. Other standouts on the EP include a sunlit and tropical-feeling, electro-soul number called “Sky” and a quick-stepping dance-floor burner called “Retro“, which is a great choice for those high-energy nights when you want to feel like you’re walking on air.

On the whole, Straight Kemistry is filled to the brim with the kind of music that longtime hip-hop fans who grew up on the Native Tongues and Soulquarians can enjoy. It’s a great example of how hip-hop, soul, and jazz can co-exist and grow together to create something new. Its breezy vibe and straight-no-chaser approach set it apart from much of today’s trap-driven hip-hop but should prove enjoyable to younger fans who have been exposed to soul-dipped rap music from acts like D Smoke, Rapsody, Larry June, and the Dreamville crew.

You can show your support by streaming the Straight Kemistry EP on your favorite digital music spot below as well as check out more from Basic Vocab by visiting the links listed.

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