Tag: R.A.P. Ferreira

R.A.P. Ferreira – “The Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures” review

This is the 7th full-length album from Kenosha, Wisconsin emcee/producer R.A.P. Ferreira. Coming up as 1/3 of Nom de Rap, he eventually broke out solo in 2011 off his debut mixtape I Wish My Brother Rob Was Here & followed it up with 2 more tapes before dropping his full-length debut A Toothpaste Suburb in the fall of 2014. However, it wasn’t until the Kenny Segal-produced sophomore effort So the Flies Don’t Come where Ferreira would come onto my radar. He’s dropped 3 more albums since then with the latest one being Bob’s Son: R.A.P. Ferreira in the Garden Level Cafe of the Scallops Hotel this past New Year’s Day, but is ending the year by dropping The Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures.

“contrapuntal” is a moody opener talking about another long day for lone wolf & cub whereas “brother mouzone library card” speaks on his metamorphoses accompanied by a lo-fi instrumental. “hyperion” takes a spacey boom bap route talking about fucking the antennas, but then “wedding cake 8ths” dissonantly details splitting weed on a first date with a nemesis.

Meanwhile on “humboldt park jibaritos” we have Ferreira on top of a jazzy beat talking about how it’s all about the feeling than the wording leading into the mellow “gemilut hassadim” proclaiming that art is part of being alive. ELDON tags along for “Blackmissionfigs” which once again goes a into a more lo-fi direction talking about rapping forever just before “east nashville” goes into a more cavernous direction saying he’ll never quit.

The song “Praise & Worship” has a bleak, boom bap tone to it comparing himself to Black Orpheus while the penultimate track “uptown 37” brings in a dramatic tone to the instrumental vowing to be gorgeous & homeless. As for “hot bref”, it closes out the album on a smokier note by talking about having God in him.

Even though Bob’s Son was a great tribute to the late Bob Kaufmann, I’d have to say The Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures is a little bit more consistent in comparison. It’s really cool to see him showcasing the talents of all these unknown, up-&-coming producers while attaching his poetically unique style to their beats.

Score: 4/5

R.A.P. Ferreira – “Bob’s Son: R.A.P. Ferreira in the Garden Level Cafe of the Scallops Hotel” review

R.A.P. Ferreira is a 28 year old MC/producer from Kenosha, Wisconsin who’s been making music for a little over a decade now. However, I personally have had him on my radar since his 2015 sophomore effort So the Flies Don’t Come. His last album Purple Moonlight Pages that came out almost a year ago at this point was not only his most reflective work yet, but one of my favorites of 2020 too. Fast forward to New Year’s Day, we’re already being treated with a follow-up.

After the psychedelic boom bap “Battle Report” intro, the first song “The Cough Bomber’s Return” talks about being the last of a dying breed over a meditative boom bap beat referencing former ECW World Heavyweight Champion, 11-time WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Cruiserweight Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, 2-time ΩCW Heavyweight Champion, 2-time ΩCW Tag Team Champion, 2-time TNA World Champion, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion, HoG Tag Team Champion & ROH World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy whereas the next track “Yamships, Flaxseed” with s.al sees the 2 talking about “pain coming in dreams” over a soulful instrumental with a piano-transition during the 2nd half.

“Diogenes on the Auction Block” talks about riding on when he was alone over a minimalist beat while the track “Redguard Snipers” with SB the Moor finds the 2 talking about people complaining about new verbs & sounds over an instrumental that starts with a upbeat vibe, but then transitions into something more deadpan in it’s final moments.

The song “Sips of Ripple Wine (No Stemware)” talks about having to level up over a funky beat with an acoustic switch-up while the track “Skrenth” talks about what it is to be a poet over an instrumental with some keys & bass guitar. The song “Bobby Digital’s Little Wings” talks about his father having a panic attack 2 weeks after he was born over a piano-inflicted boom bap beat while the track “Listening” talks about how he’s doing good in the end over jazzy instrumental.

“High Rise in Newark” talks about spirits clinging to theoretical lives over an abstract beat while the penultimate track “Rejoice” speaks for itself lyrically over a wavy instrumental. The album finishes off with “Abomunist Manifesto”, where R.A.P. Ferreira tackles abomunism as a whole over a bass guitar & an acoustic guitar.

Even though I didn’t think we’d get another album from him this quickly, I really enjoy it for what it is. I think it serves as a fantastic tribute to Bob Kaufman as his cryptic lyricism is always captivating & jazz-flavored production is once again well incorporated.

Score: 4/5