Emerging rapper Grabba presents Voodoo, an 11-track project that explores his life from a holistic viewpoint. From the mistakes, ups, downs and hurdles he had to overcome to become who he is. 

 The project starts with the intro “V8D8”, which comprises a brooding soundscape and a mysterious female voice with a mesmerizing tone. We can assume she plays the role of the antagonist luring Grabba away from his goals. This is followed by the brooding “BACK2BACK”, with its retro textures and downtempo drum grooves. Here, Grabba pours his heart on wax with lines like“Got it by the stick, I be nimble and quick/Probably got the best of my body turn stiff/Eyes can’t rest and my mind never skip” and on “1v1”, he thrills audiences with a story and his experiences. The lyrics are laden with some interesting rhyme schemes and a lot of stream-of-consciousness elements that allude to a young man looking within. Next is “SWEET NOTHINGS (interlude 888)”, a short instrumental interlude that helps break the flow with a soothing vibe.

“RESTORATION” showcases Grabba’s pen game and heartfelt approach to songwriting. Over MIND’s drumless and soul-stirring soundscape, the rapper offers a glimpse into his life and details how he was able to overcome his struggles. The project goes into a different zone with “SWAMP STORIEZ”, another storytelling track comprising rich chords reminiscent of 80s R&B and Grabba’s vivid lyricism that draws listeners into his stomping grounds and how he confronts his fears with everything he got. In “POINTLESS”, he shows how he uses music as his therapy and his resilience as a driving force. Once again, he uses crisp, soulful soundscapes as his canvas of choice and it’s brilliant from start to finish. Other interesting tracks include the jazz-soul “CHAMOMILE” and the 70s soul “METV7” featuring Jah. Both tracks are underpinned by Grabba’s off-center flow and extensive use of stream-of-consciousness writing to paint his picture.

The project closes out with “BLITZ CITY CHANT” and “Drums of Liberation”. Both tracks close out before the 2-minute mark and are laced with a plethora of offbeat raps and playful flows. The former has rumbling drum fills with jazzy textures while the latter is cinematic and a bit ominous. Here, a woman narrates the closing thoughts over a psychedelic soundscape. Overall, Voodoo feels explorative and experimental. The beats are crisp, and shiny and stray from the norm while Grabba’s off-beat flow dominates the front end. His flow takes a lot to get used to if you are a casual listener but on another note, he can get his point across without losing the main plot.