Once in a while, an album surfaces that refuses to be ignored. ShrapKnel’s latest effort, Nobody Planning to Leave, is one of those rare gems—a visceral tour de force that grips you from the first bar and never lets go.
Curly Castro and PremRock, the Philly rappers behind ShrapKnel, deliver their verses with surgical precision, slicing through tracks with raw, esoteric energy. Together, they craft an immersive experience, pulling you into a world where the line between reality and dystopia is hauntingly thin. Exploring themes of persistence and surrender, Curly and Prem capture the relentless grind and passion that’s defined ShrapKnel’s music from day one.
With Controller 7 at the helm, the production on this album is nothing short of revolutionary. His beats, a seamless mix of the offbeat and the sublime, range from the menacing to the ethereal. This intricate soundscape not only enhances Curly and Prem’s powerful lyrics but also compels them to step their game up in order to match the innovative backdrop.
Guest appearances from Onry Ozzborn, Lungs, Breezly Brewin and Armand Hammer’s ELUCID amplify the album’s intensity, adding layers of complexity to an already potent mix. Tracks like “Illusions of P” and “Dadaism 3,” featuring a verse from Open Mike Eagle that detonates with explosive impact, hit with the force of a sledgehammer, while “8 Finga Piano,” with cuts by D-Styles of the Beat Junkies, showcases a masterclass in raw, unfiltered sound.
Nobody Planning To Leave isn’t just something to hear; it’s something to endure and experience. It seeps into your bones, pulling you through the darkest recesses of hip-hop’s uncharted territories.
Listen/buy: Apple Music | Bandcamp | Spotify
