The progressive magic of Monkier
A review of experimental Atlanta hip-hop octet Monkier’s self-titled debut.
Hip-hop and jazz have been familiar bedfellows for decades, but few groups have been skilled enough to fuse them in an instrumental setting. Even the most talented hip-hop luminaries like Madlib and J Dilla only used the moody ambiance of jazz samples as brushstrokes in their production. Atlanta octet Monkier masterfully elevates the fusion between the two worlds into new dimensions rarely explored by either genres.
Their self-titled debut contains 13 tracks of expertly orchestrated, seamlessly integrated, and consistently adventurous hip-hop that pushes the outer limits of numerous styles. The songs are constructed around a series of loops that are never content to sit still. Saxophone flourishes, virtuoso guitar solos, and lush psychedelic synth buildups all come out to play, switching off between accompanying the multi-talented rapper/saxophonist/keyboardist Zac Evans and taking the reigns of the songs.
Evans raps like a well-trained soloist. Instead of constantly fighting against his bandmates for the forefront, his verses ebb and flow with their unpredictable twists and turns. In the hands of less capable musicians, the complexity of these songs would overwhelm the groove and sacrifice clarity for creativity. But the magic of Monkier comes from its ability to fashion odd time signatures in a natural way, making the skippy seven beat feel of songs like “I Don’t Know” and “Stream of Consciousness” seem eminently danceable.
The true standout of the debut is its dense, evolving arrangements. Even though soloing plays a prominent role in the album, the songs are tightly wound fragments deliciously layered to reward new auditory treats upon repeated listening. Monkier’s debut acts as a superb living document of Atlanta’s burgeoning left field experimental jazz and hip-hop scene.
Four out of five stars