Rising rapper/songwriter Mao!Lik  presents The Shift, a 14-track project that explores character development, an arc in his life and the transformation of the past into the present. The production is a blend of soulful boombap sounds to downtempo grooves that help shape the reflective songwriting, while the progressive themes act as the anchor that ties each song together.

The first volley of the project is the punchy “Anomaly,” comprising urgent stabs laced over Primo-inspired drums. Here, Mao!Lik steps into the foray with a villainous aura as he calmly states “The bar is set too short, I’m scaling too high/I know you hate to see a muthafucking monkey fly/The more time pass, people get stupid/The more that I age, the more I get cuter/Mad nigga as of late, my shoulder got a chip/leader of the Underdogs at the bottom of the food chain.”  This is followed by the dark “Like My Father.” The production is menacing and gloomy, and serves as the perfect canvas for Mao!Lik’s introspective songwriting. Using a first-person perspective, he gives audiences a glimpse into how he sees the world and people around him, but more importantly, how he reacts to certain situations. “What’s Your Motivation?” is a profound dive into the concept of self-resilience despite the obstacles placed around him, and we get to see the rapper’s stoicism in full display as he braves the odds. Next is the bouncy mid-tempo track “Can’t Resist It,” which builds on a vocal sample and atmospheric string sample. Here, Mao!Lik’ drops more than a handful of nuggets for listeners as he runs through a laundry list of endeavours that could make one’s life better. In a nutshell, it’s a reminder of what true potential is and what we all could achieve if we put it to good use.

One thing to note is that the project title serves as the running theme, but not on face value, as each track progressively adds a value tag that carries weight as the project moves along. Tracks like “Glow” and “Good Intentions”  venture into reflective and insightful themes about life experiences, while “Stayin’ Sharp”  runs through different life-changing scenarios which could jeopardize one’s reputation. The track is anchored on the premise of being self-aware and the power of preparedness. Mao!Lik doesn’t shy away from showing a range of emotions, and while his bravado energy is always at the forefront, he does give listeners quite a lot to delve into. Another dope track is “A Long Time Coming,” which comes with a jazz/boombap beat reminiscent of Pete Rock and sees the rapper flexing his lyrical biceps with bars like “The shift’s upon us when it comes to skills, my shit is topping/I’ rocking constant cheques, depositing and gaining sponsors/Take over closets, these gate keepers owe the sponsors/it’s time to blossom/What’s an ordinary man to God/within his soul, taking this shit back to just unload.” The previous single, “The Pull,” was our first introduction to the rapper, and it does serve its purpose with its dreamy, soulful backdrop and insightful songwriting

The project closes out with “Do What They Can’t” and “Cardinal (Never Let You Down).” The former has a solemn backdrop underpinned by aspirational themes, while the latter focuses on self-assessment and the process of finding one’s path away from everyone else. Both tracks explore different sides of the rapper’s life’s trajectory and his mission to find his true purpose despite what life throws at him. Other notable tracks include “B.A.N,” a mellow track that talks about integrity and discipline, the wishful thinking “What If,” where he presents an ideal world or the reflective “My Pocket,” that showcases the rapper’s versatility over a downtempo instrumental.

Overall, The Shift is cohesive and filled with quite a lot of stories and life lessons but also shows artistic integrity by being nuanced. Mao!Lik sure knows his onions and his ability to convey emotionally powerful tracks is refreshing and commendable. On another note, his voice texture reminds us of Masta Ace with a punchy oomph.

Keep up with Mao!Lik |  Youtube