Digi Dossier by Mike Digi

Mike Digi’s Digi Dossier is another case for the Charlotte native being one of the true modern greats in his field. Opening with a tense atmosphere befitting of his sonic experimentation, the album quickly launches into familiarly noirish territory. ‘Concrete Smile’ delivers spooky keys and stiff drums for a great piece of worldbuilding that really gives the impression of a caper or deal gone wrong.

This theme continues into the next track, which features uber-smooth JayPluss raps over dusky synths and nostalgia-laced pianos. Dimly lit street corners and smoke-filled bars become the backdrop for his slick rhymes, petering into the aptly named ‘Drunk Secret Agent’ as the keys take precedence once again. Mike does an incredibly good job of keeping his music true to the contemporary sounds of underground hip-hop while also giving the impression of a live band in the fullest swing of their coke-laced career.

This motif shapes the album going forward, jazzier tracks populating the middle stretch of the album and encouraging commanding features from the likes of J Wade. Wade’s slurred raps are incredibly charming, and once again a perfect fit for Mike’s speakeasy daydreams. ‘Hot At Night’ is the first major reprieve from this sound, as now the listener is invited to cruise around the city. You can practically feel the warm air hit your face as the album propels you towards its home stretch, and what a set of songs it is.

‘The Way’ is a beautiful little track, the flows of collaborators Prince Shakir and Jay Nabi forming excellent verses that speak highly to the flexibility of Mike’s beats. ‘Inflammation’, meanwhile, is Digi Dossier’s best vocal track hands down. DeleteeGlitch is a modern poet on this track, his delivery inspired and sagely in equal measure. He more or less serves up the finale ‘Grind My Teeth’ on a platter for the listener, as it builds on the esoteric aspects of the previous track’s production for a hypnotic trip through nineties rap trends that evokes the same sounds of city and life within that the genre’s best acts have always employed.

As a concept album, Mike Digi’s latest project is hugely successful. As a collection of beats, it’s a masterclass. As a statement of intent from one of the scene’s most consistent producers, it’s the kind of project that will go down in the history books.

MIKE_DIGI LIVES IN A CAVERN AND STUDIES
PHONOMETRICS, HE IS AN ADRIFT BOHEMIAN FROM A NEBULA NOWHERE CLOSE