The Black Plague Doctors is a multi-faceted Atlanta, GA-based duo made up of rapper/guitarist/producer Jo-Fi , and rapper/bassist/producer St. Gabe. Together, they are bridging the gap between modern hip-hop with a live instrumentation style. Their latest release, Prometheus, is a 12-track body of work inspired by the tragic Greek mythical Titan of the same name and is bolstered by hard-hitting cinematic beats and rapping styles that explore a handful of topics with a focus on maintaining the art-form without watering it down.
The first track, “Icarus (Never Been This Fly),” is a slight nod to another tragic mythical Greek figure, but in a way, it sets the tone for the rest of the project. The overall sombre feel and cinematic sound are pronounced, and on the lyrical tip, we get raw, undiluted bravado raps from the get-go underpinned by a lively, multi-layered instrumental. This is followed by “Hot Like Summer” and “Falling With Style,” where social commentary meets street-savvy tales with excellent ambience. The former explores urban life with lines like “Sundays, pass the bottle, playing Gucci mane like the Gospel/Sober living, that’s the slur, fast life, that’s a blur/Shoot, nigga, that is a verb/You ain’t said nothing but a word.” The latter continues in similar areas with a jazzy arrangement that evokes a live lounge setting. As per usual, the emcees get down to business with an expressive performance. The rapping is particularly suited for the non-conforming backdrop as the cadence switches and weaves in between the dynamic chords and rumbling percussions that defy the usual hip-hop standard. “MK: Ultra” is a lyrically colourful track brimming with dark, moody backdrops and Mortal Kombat references alongside the love theme. The approach is unprecedented and adds the element of surprise to the duo’s attributes. This is followed by “Tesla Rocketship,” an insightful look into modern capitalism, social engineering and the never-ending hamster wheel the masses are stuck in. Lines like “Running from Storm troopers/I’m han solo/This ain’t lasers going through ya/Devil on my shoulder, my hype man/convicted felon president can only be a white man/I wished we could be honest about these situations but its already changed the world, we barely maintain it” underpin the doom and gloom of modern society.
The duo handle the production and vocal duties on all the tracks with just one feature on “On Your Shoulder,” where SnookNazty makes an appearance. The track samples a classic soul song into a laid-back reflective piece that explores infidelity and the dynamics of being a side dude. “Breathing Stops” is an interlude that creates a mood shift on the project, while “Rorschach Test” dives into the psyche of an individual and the dark thoughts that keep engulfing him. The final track, “DEEPR,” is a 2-part beat switch track that employs pitched-up Gospel vocal samples and warm keys with soft drum grooves. The lyrics are mostly stream-of-consciousness with a touch of reflection. Other notable tracks include the lively “SweartaGod,” the lo fi /rock infused sounds of “Generational Cursive,” is brimming with insightful songwriting that details past life and “A Rock. A Chain” a track that uses jazz-standard arrangements with cinematic textures. These tracks are story-driven pieces that give listeners different sides to the duo’s artistry.
Overall, Prometheus, is layered and packed to the brim with off-kilter, no-holds-barred rapping accompanied by non traditional soundscape that infuses jazz, contemporary rock, lofi and experimental elements. There is so much to unpack and if you love left field hiphop, this is for you.
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