NOTE: PATREON SUPPORTERS RECEIVED ACCESS TO THIS REVIEW ON AUGUST 10TH, 2024.

This EP was released on July 1st this year. This is one of those projects that I know I’m gonna like before I even listen to it. I am writing this preamble before hearing it. I just know I’m gonna dig this because brainorchestra. has released a ton of music in the four years that he’s been on my radar, and literally every single project I’ve heard has been enjoyable to some extent. I feel like he’s just been getting better and better lately, especially as a rapper, so I’m really excited to hear this. Also, I really like the title and cover art for this one, so that kinda boosts my anticipation. I should’ve known the artwork was done by Nick Arcade just by looking at it because it’s got his signature style. That’s really dope. Anyway, the entire project is produced, written, recorded, mixed, and mastered by brainorchestra. himself, so that’s really cool as well. I think I’m gonna love this.

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The project begins with the title track, Relic. I liked this track a lot on my first listen of the EP, but it honestly grew on me even more as I returned to it. I really love how brainorchestra. raps over this dope ass loop with no percussion. He’s one of those dudes who just seems like he’s really good at making shit sound great. The way his art is always presented is just really nice. The mixing and mastering is always on point, the music videos always look really well shot and edited, the cover art is always pretty, etc. He’s got the aesthetic down for sure. Most importantly, the rapping and production are fantastic. He’s got a knack for making shit sound really polished without sounding too clean at the same time. The verse is fire—not only lyrically, but sonically as well; his reserved vocal delivery and steady flow sound excellent.

Need me to change the game? Well that just comes with fees
Please, you think I'm rapping for fame and popularity?
Nah, I'm just an artist that others never compare to be
To be fair, I'm still growing too, but they ain't sharing seeds
Got it locked in, just carving out my pair of keys
The rhyme and loop bring the therapy
For transparency, you chumps can't touch this
Much love to the suckers who tried, but failed fucking with us

The song is under two minutes long, but it doesn’t feel incomplete or anything. I actually think it’s the perfect length. It might’ve gotten stale if it lasted longer. It’s dope as hell. I think I like the following track, Start Believing, even more. I could definitely see someone like Action Bronson spitting over this beat. I much prefer brainorchestra. as a rapper personally though. He sounds really great over this beat. This one actually has drums, and honestly a very different vibe from the preceding track. However, the way the title track segues into this one somehow just sounds really smooth, so it doesn’t feel like too jarring of a switch up sonically. As far as the rapping goes, I actually really like the motivational lyricism on the hook, and the verse is really dope.

Been through a lot of change just to reach the sky
Now I'm headed out into the galaxy, let's take a ride
Turn up the speakers, get baked and high
I'm just a product of my environment, the mission's to stay alive
Talking food, I ain't late to mine, dinner stay served up
Roll the purple stuff, then I play with rhymes
It's Brain, bitch, reminding it's my timing
They just another fly on the wall, can never chime in

This is another really exceptional track. I love it. The fire keeps coming with track 3, which is called Feather Feet. I like this track even more than the preceding couple of songs. I really love the beat on here. Again, it sounds super polished, but not too clean or overproduced. The rapping here, just like on every other track, is really entertaining to me. I liked these lines in particular…

Claiming they better than me, doggy, they better be
Since a youngin I was fly, they called me Feather Feet
Think of phrases, then I wreck the beat
All heat, 1,000° when stepping to the mic to speak

The song’s fire. It’s followed by Musket Nozzle, which features a familiar sample. I can’t remember where I’ve heard it before. I think the flip of it is really well done here though. What really makes this song stand out is Brain’s performance on the mic. I think this is one of the best verses I’ve ever heard from him. The last few bars in particular were really awesome to me.

I wear gold like Egyptians in the hieroglyphics
And warp physics when my pen hit the paper
My energy was always "see you later," got a mission
Get the package, go back to the crib, and start to flip the kitchen
And I ain't cookin' crack rock, but crack music
Roll another three spliffs, I swear I'm not abusin'
I played their last album, I swear I couldn't tune it
They cartoonish, all jokes and movin' foolish
I'll give you all a tool kit, the way to move silent
Stack your paper like the empire, mind on surviving
Rhyming is just the easy part, I'm tryna make you feel
What the deal is, 'cause many not valid to show what real is
I wrote the letter, sealed it inside a bottle
If you see this, just know the world's fucked, and there's no tomorrow
I'm getting mine, going full throttle, feeling hostile
Hitting like a potato on the musket nozzle

He killed this track. Again, it’s one of my favorite verses on the project. However, the following track, I Gave Up on Land, is actually my favorite song on the whole EP. When the loop first came on, I already knew I was gonna love this beat. I expected some percussion to come in once Brain started rapping, and when that didn’t happen I was kinda surprised. I actually like that there are no drums on this track though. It makes the music feel unpredictable. The instrumental is amazing, and I love the verse here.

My mind foul, that's just a condition livin' in the wild
Take a seat, roll up that loud, I'm here to spit a while
It's not your average different style, this is space music
Can't control the outcomes of the past, let faith prove it
Lay the blueprint, this road is a long one
Many think they cookin' 'til I pull up with that sauce gun
Paintin' pictures like I'm Bob Ross, son
I was once a lost cause, then I spoke to the moon & sun

His calm, reserved vocal delivery sounds so good over this loop, and I love his flow. Everything about this track just sounds so good to me. The beat actually sounds a lot like something Ka would make now that I think about it. I love the song. It’s definitely one of my favorites of the year. The closing track is called Whole Foods. This one grew on me a lot with multiple listens. I always liked it, but I came to appreciate it even more as I spent more time with it. I really love this beat, and Brain killed the verse.

Get my props, puff weed, keep diggin'
Russian loops in effortless style, we in the kitchen
Gotta ask why they try to fuck with him, listen
It's not about the hypotheticals, I'm on a mission

I even really like the hook on this track. Like I said, it grew on me a lot. The production is excellent here. The song’s dope as hell.

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^{This EP is amazing. I enjoyed the project brainorchestra. did where he rapped over beats from Budamunk, but I honestly think he sounds best over his own beats. He’s definitely another one of my favorite rapper-producers right now. This EP in particular is the best project I think I’ve heard where he’s rapping. Every single track on this project could be considered a highlight. I love everything here. The production is pristine, and Brain’s vocal delivery and flow sound phenomenal over it. I feel like the brevity of this EP works to its benefit as well. It feels like he shaved off any possible filler and just gave us the best of the best. Everything here is boiling hot fire. I have no complaints. It just makes me excited to hear even more of whatever he has coming in the future. Overall, I think this project is dope as fuck.}

Favorite Song: I Gave Up on Land
Least Favorite Song: Whole Foods

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