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Water to Wine is a 14-track collaborative project by rapper Cashus King and UK-based American producer Big O. The conceptual body of work focuses on themes like rebirth, growth and transformative energy. The project is also inspired by Jesus’s first miracle in the Book of John, where he turned water into wine, and this serves as an underlying water/wine motif that threads the subject matter together in one cohesive fashion.
Neither artist is new to TWIB and has been featured numerous times together and otherwise, and both have a considerable body of work behind them, but as they say, one would surely go further as a team, and these two cats are proof of that. The project boasts solid guest appearances from Blu, Fashawn, L.O.U., P-Rawb, Big Tone, G-HOLY, Frannie EL, and Shari, while mixing and mastering was handled by Argiris ‘Argy W‘ Psylomesis.
From the jump, Water to Wine hits the bullseye, in terms of cohesiveness, from the consistent lyricism, surgically crafted soundscape, to the guest features.  The intro “Barry Water” samples the late great Barry White, who breaks down the concept of a self-made god on Earth. Not to be blasphemous, but rather reminding us of our God-given abilities to create life and make something meaningful out of it. This leads into the aptly titled “Likwid(Big Fish),” which finds Cashus King in his element as he takes listeners on a reflective journey filled with events, characters, and experiences that aim to reshape one’s thoughts.
The next track, “Precipitation,” has the veteran emcee Fashawn joining the insightful fray, and the result is a profound recounting of the bloody past with lines like
“Imperial nations, invented hatred/ hegemony arch they backs, stole that shit from natives/Red men, black men rocking the same concerts/But on different stages/Spanish conquistadors put our kids in cages.” Both emcees thread the past and show the long-lasting connection to the present. The following tracks, “Cherry Cola” and “Streams,” continue the liquid theme with reflective lyricism and soulful soundscapes. The former has a summertime vibe evoking nostalgia and good memories. Here, Cashus King, P-Rawb and L.O.U. Use extensive wordplay, internal rhymes, and vivid storytelling to point out some past social constructs that are deeply rooted in black culture. The latter is a lofi/neo-soul infused piece that features Blu, Frannie El and Shari. The result is an introspective number filled with engaging storytelling that explores growth and life-changing decisions.

The project’s abundance of water references and the inventive way of not making things stale are the icing on the cake of the album.

“Drowning'” dives into the Cahsus King’s life timeline as the emcee details his journey and some of the characters that made it colourful. “Hydration (Reign)” is a celebratory track that ushers in the relief of water after a dry spell, while “Drippin’ (Soaking Poems)” digs deep into his psyche as he continues to grind through the system that was made to subjugate him and his kind. The next feature comes courtesy of G-Holy on “Potions,” where the duo take us to the West Coast on this smooth, modern funk-infused track. We must add that the production thus far has been dynamic, versatile and consistent. Big-O’s varied genre-influences, excellent sample flips and layered instrumentation bring out the best in Cashus King.

 

The project ends with two brilliant tracks. The first is the solemn “Dark Agua” featuring Big Tone, which dives into the capitalistic system and corporations that have their sights on the destruction of the masses just to make a profit. The finale, “Wine,” serves as the full transformation and brings everything full circle. Here, Cashus once again shows his lyrical dexterity and knack for painting vivid verbal pictures s he runs through relatable stories and restorative themes. Other notable cuts include the anthemic “Swimmin'” followed by the Gospel-inspired “Holy Water and the 90s R&B vibes of “Like Lava For Water.” These tracks explore different sides of Cashus King, who pours his all on wax, from his transformation, growth and the feelings of true love.

Overall, Water to Wine is a brilliant project that evokes nostalgic feelings with a message of self-belief and trust in the natural process of things.

 


 

 

Keep up with Big O  | Soundcloud : Facebook : Twitter/X : Instagram

Keep up with  Cashus King:  Facebook : Instagram: Twitter/X

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