Rising rapper/musician  Pierce shares his new project Phoenix Party, Vol 1, a 9-track body of work that showcases his versatility and knack for bending different genres in his unique style.

The first track “I am a Revolutionary” sets the tone with its unapologetic diatribe and focuses on social-political issues affecting minorities. Pierce uses vocal samples from Black Panther leaders over a hard-hitting drum groove and closes it out with his undiluted thoughts on the matter at hand. “Enemies in the Room” starts with a Malcolm X sample that inspired the title and it features Khu the Blade. Backed by the sombre piano-riff and mellow drums, the emcees deliver some thought-provoking performances that are peppered by spoken word cadences and black militant themes and rhymes like “The panthers were terrorist is what they taught me in school/So I lamp put it on me/Cause getting my wig flipped like Hampton ain’t for Khu bro”. “Control/Destiny” brings in  Ghostshaft, for a soulful and profound piece that explores the concept of free will, destiny and the power of taking back one’s power. The rappers break down their meaning of the word control as follows “Control is setting fire to your soul/watch yourself burn and begin to grow”.

“You Thought I Ain’t Have Hoes?” is a skit with a playful title and features Chiga Anao performing a hilarious character who claims to get girls for every day of the week. The next track “Dense” features JBC and is a soulful-jazz-infused piece that explores the concept of breaking free from mental restraints. The rappers pour their true thoughts on wax with lines like “This is truly me, you gotta know yourself to grow yourself”.  Next up is the DLN-assisted “Comin For Mine” which samples a classic jazz-soul song that hip-hop lovers would recognize. Here, the listeners are gifted with a bravado-laden performance and themes of self-reliance and discovery. “Cigarette Shelf Line” is a guitar-driven piece that switches into a piano-laden beat as the emcee steps in. The track also features vocalist  Sangria Jay The Dragon.  The project closes out with “Teagues Interlude” and “Conclusion” featuring Lucid Yusuf. The track is an experimental track that blends sombre guitar arrangements with scenic dark pop vibes, reflective spoken word type vocals and sublime melodies together.

Overall, Phoenix Party, Vol 1 is a mixed bag of sounds and topics that might be heavy for some and easy to digest for others, depending on who you ask. I must admit, sometimes the heavy use of abstract themes can be a bit distracting but it sure lends strength to the versatility and uniqueness of the entire project.