Indie-rap pioneers, the CunninLynguists, have come out with a new single, and it's got a sound that builds nicely on their most recent batch of releases. The intro to the track consists of a fairly basic hip-hop beat, but when it's paired with the vintage vocal samples employed, and layered over with some extra textures to provide some much-appreciated depth, the whole thing turns into the perfect backdrop for the CunninLynguists' rather clever bars of poetry that fade in and out between the hooks. The pace of the track is very laid-back to say the least, and if you're looking for something to chill out to, then look no further, but don't mistake the trio's effort for lethargy; the energy is kept right where it needs to be for a fun listen. Nowadays, it's pretty common for rappers to pair up their words with production work that would be more at home in other genres, but these guys were doing it before most everybody else, and "In The City" makes it very apparent that this isn't their first trip to the proverbial rodeo. The stylistic influences here are perfectly balanced, and the finished product feels as natural as anything else out right now.
CunninLynguists