by Dan-O

The murmur flow isn’t always a whisper, it can get loud like an argument you keep between each other. It can rush a thought into another thought and leave you scrambling for the rewind button. His mastery of it provides an otherworldly dexterity that always leaves you full.

If I played track 9 (Make It Home) from Momento Mori for someone not well initiated into rap they might stumble into asking if it was that “mumble rap” they’ve heard about. SolarFive has a natural bounce to his flow and a low tone different from the traditional bold warrior flow fighting for that Griselda audience. Mumble rap is a term created by frustrated rap fans to discuss a subset of popular rappers who seemed to deliver words indistinct from one another, blocks of words dumped out together like dirty clothes from a hamper. Some of that was the listeners not figuring out a new style. None of that is SolarFive, who does not mumble but delivers in a murmur flow. I found an example sentence for murmur online that I love.

Example:  I murmured ‘I love you’ into my girl-friend’s ear. 

Hold that image, now change it to SolarFive murmuring in your ear “Slim as are the chances given, living off of bad decisions. Nothing comes from passing wisdom. Trapping gave us academics learning weight and metric system. Slanging out the Expedition, shooting at the opposition. It’s the life we choose to live in (Fly Far).” Every word Solar says is distinct, completely understandable but it’s low. It’s target is you. Complete thoughts weave into one another from last word to first word of the next thought. The world is a loud party of people arguing and dancing, all for your attention. Solar’s flow is right next to you saying stuff like “I been down bad, nights I ain’t wanna exist.” This line is from Swing Low which has a ferocious chorus, dark and illustrative bars but begins with Solar singing(one of the albums most memorable moments).  From singing to hooks to verses our narrator is completely self-sufficient. Out of ten songs only one vocal guest appears (D2G on Block Shake) I didn’t even notice. I never felt like I needed anyone else. The murmur flow isn’t always a whisper, it can get loud like an argument you keep between each other. It can rush a thought into another thought and leave you scrambling for the rewind button. His mastery of it provides an otherworldly dexterity that always leaves you full.

On Iceberg Theory’s side of this, it’s important to note that SolarFive is an incredible producer who could have made his own beats and has in the past. He picked Iceberg for a reason. Throughout Momento Mori we get a stupefying array of drum sounds from The Ghost of Niggasaki that will rattle your trunk to a lighter trotting hi hat on Make It Home. Only Passing is foreboding and the drums act as an ominous stomp. Iceberg is so smart he rejected the drums v. drumless debate altogether and built each song with the drums it needs. As a collaborator he understands and matches Solarfive’s dexterity, takes it for what it is…a pass to go anywhere you want. To be able to use all the dark colors without any rules. That’s the essence of Momento Mori.

Stream then purchase Momento Mori below:

https://solarfive.bandcamp.com/album/momento-mori-2