4rm Losses 2 Leisures isn’t exactly here to make nice. This EP clocks in at barely 10 minutes, and frankly, it might be the most straightforward hip-hop project that I’ve heard in a long time. Don’t expect any long-winded introspection or filler tracks, because while I may have a greater critique about that in a bit, this project isn’t here for that. This isn’t a piece of art meant for deep, emotional reflection—this is an unapologetic, in-your-face blast of Dirty South energy, and if you can’t keep up, that’s your problem. The longest track barely breaks the 2:30 mark, and instead of feeling rushed, it feels urgent, relentless, and daring you to blink or else you’ll miss it… and you wouldn’t want to miss it.
Tracks in this EP hit like a bloodthirsty boxer on their first match—raw, heavy, completely unrefined, in-your-face, and unapologetic in how it goes about getting all the bravado of $ Mac. This isn’t the over-polished, radio-friendly version of Southern hip-hop. In fact, if anything, this project sounds like an encasing of sorts; a recording of the best bars $ Mac had in past freestyles and cyphers in the best way possible. All four tracks are set to drums that hit hard, with the 808s rattling like the streets are alive beneath you, and the entire production reeking of that grimy, take-no-prisoners attitude that made the South what it is today. It’s gritty, it’s imperfect, and it doesn’t apologize for any of it.
This project operates like a series of musical snapshots. Each track gives you just enough to understand what they are about, and then it’s gone before you have a chance to get comfortable. But that’s arguably the beauty of it; that there’s no room for indulgence here. It’s dirty, fast, and unapologetic. Whether it’s cruising through the city or gearing up for battle, every track feels like a moment you’d catch while walking around in the streets, aware that your swagger’s undeniable and your presence unignorable. I would personally contend with the length as it ruins the possibilities of tracks like Icewood not being able to properly maximize a sample integration in the back half of its runtime, which is criminally short as it doesn’t run over two minutes.
Overall, 4rm Losses 2 Leisures isn’t one to reinvent the wheel, nor is it trying. It’s not exactly about complexity or subtlety, though parts of those would’ve been highly appreciated to flesh out tracks—it’s about bringing the raw, stripped-down essence of hip-hop and packing it into four songs of pure heat; ready to go for an easy listen, no fluff, no filler, no frills, just pure bars.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for publications in the US and former lead writer of Atop The Treehouse. Reviews music, film and TV shows for media aggregators.
