Here we have the 4th EP from Charlotte, North Carolina abstract lyricist MAVI. Emerging off his full-length debut Let the Sun Talk a day before his 20th birthday, he would go on to land a verse on “El Toro Combo Meal” off of Earl Sweatshirt’s 2nd EP Feet of Clay a month later as well as preluding the further well received Laughing So Hard It Hurts in the form of his previous EP End of the Earth. His 3rd album Shadowbox celebrated it’s 1-year anniversary this summer & The Pilotlooks to start the final week of November after signing to Loma Vista Recordings.
“Heavy Hand” is a lo-fi boom bap vibe to the beat talking about using his eyes because his heart’s somewhat like a blindfold whereas “Triple Nickel” featuring MIKE finds the 2 jazzily discussing pushing people far back when they see their dreams creeping up closely. “Silent Film” works in a psychedelic guitar riff getting honest regarding him never learning & not needing anyone to worry about him while “G-Annis” produced by Reuben Vincent references the current WWE Intercontinental Champion John Cena.
Kenny Mason joins MAVI on the drumless “Typewriter” warning that anyone comparing them to artists below them will have lost credibility because of it “31 Days” hooks up a vocal sample telling us he’s been sober for over a month now. “Denise Murrell” goes for a jazzier vibe once again with a flute heavy instrumental talking about his grandma calling him asking when he’s gonna stop making sad shit prior to Jay Versace incorporating some bare sampling for “Mender” telling this romantic interest that they’re gonna be together some day.
“Landgrab” featuring Earl Sweatshirt began The Pilot’s rollout with a drumless lead single trading consciously abstract bars back-&-forth with one another while the 2nd & final single “Potluck”featuring Smino blends trap, cloud rap & neo-soul talking about detractors hating all they want. “Jammers Anonymous” featuring Niontaydeserves a mention of it’s own whether it be the plugg/Philly jerk beat or both artists nailing it with the “Landgrab” delivery for a 2nd time.
Taking control of this new sobered up version of himself in a time of constant travel as well as growing exposure to the arts/design & alienation from home, MAVI introduces himself as part of the Loma Vista roster with a 26 & a half minute EP setting the stage of what we can expect out of his 4th album 1st in Flight next year. The production explores old & new sounds for him from boom bap to jazz rap, drumless, lo-fi hop, trap, cloud rap, neo-soul, plugg & Philly jerk bringing a tight list of guests on board for less that half of it to properly celebrate his sobriety.
Score: 4.5/5
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