NOTE: PATREON SUPPORTERS RECEIVED ACCESS TO THIS REVIEW ON AUGUST 12TH, 2024.

This EP was released on July 26th this year. OLD SELF is an artist to whom I was introduced a couple years ago when he was featured on Lt. Headtrip‘s Steinway album. I’d only heard him on features prior to checking this latest project out, so I didn’t have a great idea of what his artistry was like. I was excited to try this EP out though because it was released by we are the karma kids, which has basically become one of my favorite labels ever since I familiarized myself with it. I also really dig the title and cover art. This project is completely self produced, and was mixed by Lt. Headtrip and mastered by C $ Burns.

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The opening song is called smart phone, and it’s really dope.

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I love the gritty production here. The way the crackly vinyl sounds are incorporated is really cool. To me, the main appeal of this song is the lyricism along with the atmosphere of the production. The whole EP has kind of a warm, early morning soundscape. It sounds like a sunrise in the form of music. I think the lack of percussion is a big part of why it has that early morning vibe for me. It just sounds really calm and peaceful, which is usually the type of shit I like when I’m waking up in the morning. I think that’s the best time to play this project. OLD SELF has a very calm, reserved flow that isn’t gonna overwhelm anyone. The relatability of the lyricism is what really wins me over as a listener.

Your favorite rapper runs a sweatshop
My favorite rapper works at a bar and restaurant

The hook actually grew on me a lot. I think it’s a bit underwhelming sonically, but the lyrics themselves kept me interested.

I bought a smartphone to do some dumb shit
The general specifics, kick it into high function
Import the drugs, export destruction
Any room’s a stadium, I pray it means something

The clip of Kamala Harris speaking at the end of the track was pretty hilarious too. I really fuck with this song. I think it’s really dope. Track 2 is called Old forever, and this is my favorite song on the project. I just love the production here so much. There’s one verse on this song, but OLD SELF performs it twice. It’s really great. Pretty much every line is quotable in this track for me.

How will you remember me?
“It’s all I ever thought about anyways”
That’s what the tomb will say
Scoop my brains or paint my face
Or scatter my remains over polluted bay
I’m not ready to admit I’m not ready to die
Watchin' the clock’s nervous ticks, livin' on borrowed time
I’m fine, and I don’t want these songs to die with me

The warm, peaceful production helps push things to the next level. It makes me think of Toy Story for some reason. I don’t know why. I just have this image in my head of Woody sitting on a shelf as sunlight shines on him through the window. That’s what this beat makes me think of. Again, there’s no percussion on this track at all. It’s dope as hell. Track 3 is called JUIN, and it’s an interlude that leads into the closing track really well. It features an artist named _kommitted_ delivering a spoken message to OLD SELF with a comically deep voice. He acknowledges it at the beginning of the track, so I’m guessing he doesn’t normally sound like that. I don’t know for sure though because this was my first time hearing him. Anyway, I actually like this interlude a lot, mostly because of the instrumental in the background. I think it sounds really nice, and I appreciate how smoothly it segues into the closing track, Sunday Scaries, which features scratches from DJ Mo Niklz.

I really love how chill the instrumental here is. This would make for a good morning alarm honestly. I genuinely might actually use this to wake up. Again, it sounds like a sunrise in the form of music. Lyrically, the “Sunday scaries” refers to the anxieties that come on Sunday while one is employed.

Anxious and frustrated, trust the boss man hates me
Hardly feels like a break when there’s a Monday waiting
Unread emails, mundane statements
Last time I took a trip, I slipped on untied laces
Same old routine shirts with the same old faces
'Bout to walk in lookin’ like the Mudvayne bassist

I really fuck with the overall vibe and general sentiment behind this track. The production is excellent, and OLD SELF sounds pretty good over it. The song’s dope.

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^{This EP is great. I really love OLD SELF’s production on this project. The minimalistic approach to the percussion in particular really helped create a consistently chill and relaxing atmosphere throughout the entire project. This along with OLD SELF’s thoughtful lyricism made for a very entertaining combination. Like I said at multiple points in the body of this review, the production sounds like a beautiful sunrise to me. OLD SELF’s calm, laidback flow and vocal delivery may be an acquired taste, but I personally enjoyed it, especially since the lyrics were very good. I think this EP is really dope. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below.}

Favorite Song: Old forever
Least Favorite Song: Sunday Scaries

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