M-Dot
The Ego and the Enemy
Own Lane Music; EMS Productions
featuring: 7L;
B.A.M; Camp Lo; DJ JS-1; Djaz; Dominique Larue; Jaysaun; Krumb Snatcha; LP2;
Marley Marl; Method Man; Tribeca
producers:
Buckwild; Es-K; Hi Tek; Jon Glass; KAN; Khrysis; LP2; LX Beats; Large
Professor; Marco Polo; Marley Marl; Snowgoons; Soulplusmind; Whatson
The man got a joint produced by Marley Marl. That could be
the review. That should speak to M-Dot’s style and skill and street cred enough
to make you know to buy this album. But there is so much more to The Ego and The Enemy, drenched in
skilled multi syllabic bars and storytelling lyrics and boom bap beats all
through the record.
There a few issues or distractions one can list with this
album, if any. M-Dot spews lyrical dexterity and skill relentlessly throughput
this album. The Ego and the Enemy is
long at 17 tracks averaging 4 minutes each. But nothing drags here, each track
bangs. M-Dot utilizes this extensive outlet to touch on many aspects of life;
channeling his anger and frustration and appreciation. He explores many facets
of life. He tells sad tales of people’s self-destruction on a few tracks. He
highlights the love of his daughter. M-Dot also reminds you of his skills and
lyricism and tenacity repeatedly. He is frank and personal like Brother Ali or
Slaine or Esoteric, exhibiting traits that portray flaws and vulnerability as
well as skill and mastery of this rap game. With the Boston accent and delivery,
it’s hard to not think of Slaine. But M-Dot shines on his own that the thought
is fleeting.
The beats are amazing, cultivating dope beats from all areas
of hip hop. There is soul, reggae, jazz, blues all accented by dope scratches
and hooks. The first track (after the intro) is “Dreamscape”, Marco Polo’s beat
is so dark! A slow, doomy guitar line; something you would hear from La Coka
Nostra or DJ Muggs. It swirls and looms as a jangly piano line jingles in the
back to contrast. Another guitar line of a squealing solo is layered over it too,
so bad ass. “Foreign”
is a popping beat, by Jon Glass, with elements of pitched vocals, dreamy strings,
and sloppy drums. Its hypnotic and and pounding, the accordion chop is dope and
adds that unique flavor. “Days Are All the Same” carries a theme repeated often
in my world of punk rock. The anti-cubical, anti-corporate, anti-9 to 5 and
materialism and consumerism is a refreshing spark in hip hop. Second verse
attacks the world which females can get trapped in when they subscribe to
vanity and selfish technology. Hi-Tek’s dense beat is killer. The choral voices
and the scratches over atmospheric waves and organ loops provide a stellar
foundation to approach these subjects.
Marley Marl’s “Gleamin’”, featuring B.A.M., is a jazzy gem
boasting a crunchy trumpet. “Give It to Me” is a banger, the dusty beat with
super scratches and samples provide a ample boom bap for M-Dot to proclaim why
he ain’t leaving the game anytime soon. Fellow Boston ripper, Jaysaun, joins
M-Dot on a Jamaican inspired thumper. The main hook is heavy while the verse is
a small sparse pluck; both angles deliver on that bumping track must. M-Dot’s
lyrics flow and slip through a plethora of multis. Jaysaun spits short but
potent. His razor tongue is rarely paralleled. I wish he would drop a proper
studio album. Meth comes in and ignites the swing of “Shine”. Tical still got
it and he brings his signature charisma and wordplay to the track. It’s an uplifting
track with Dominique Larue spitting ferocious on the second verse. The sung
chorus is a positive vibe, which usually turns me off, but it’s cool here.
M-Dot, on “No Excuses”, says “You either want it or you don’t”.
That sums up his drive and fortitude as he writes. You can hear his hunger in
his bars throughout the entirety of Ego and the Enemy. There is no doubt that
talent is innate, but work is earned and proven by labor. M-Dot has created
another level for himself on this superb album. M-Dot touches on fun subjects
and dark ones. Divorce, strained relationships, raising children, travel, rap
as a business, drugs, drinking guns, society. Every beat is a landscape of
potent emotions to hit visceral paralleling his words. While the digital
release came out on January 27th, the hard copies come out on March
17th. Celebrate St Patty’s Day with this Boston MC tearing up wax.
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