“Koncrete Jungle” Hip-Hop EP Review

An analysis and rating of Kurious’ December 3 album.

Kurious%2C+mostly+known+for+a+couple+features+with+MF+DOOM%2C+teams+up+with+a+mysterious+artist+named+Ro+Data+to+put+together+a+22+minute+long+EP+with+8+separate+songs.+The+tracklist+includes+songs+that+are+all+under+3+minutes%2C+except+for+Seeing+Ghosts%2C+the+outro+track.+The+album+cover+depicts+a+massive+monkey+monster+with+%E2%80%9CKoncrete+Jungle%E2%80%9D+in+heavily+stylized+writing.+Photo+by+Noel+Castillo%0A

Kurious, mostly known for a couple features with MF DOOM, teams up with a mysterious artist named Ro Data to put together a 22 minute long EP with 8 separate songs. The tracklist includes songs that are all under 3 minutes, except for Seeing Ghosts, the outro track. The album cover depicts a massive monkey monster with “Koncrete Jungle” in heavily stylized writing. Photo by Noel Castillo

Noel Castillo, Features Editor

With a mix of singles and full-length projects released throughout the past three decades, this particular project had minimal advertising, if any, and low expectations that it easily surpassed. While it may have a few minor areas to improve on, the album is definitely worth checking out; the album cover, unique production, and impressive bars and double entendres all blended together make it an enjoyable experience.

One of the album’s strengths is the album cover. It catches the eye well because of the more silly, lighthearted comic book theme and big blue graffiti font that stands out in a white and light brown background. The massive, gleaming monkey preparing to smash everything in sight also draws the listeners’ attention effectively. The image goes with the project’s title perfectly because of the giant ape that’s using the city as its personal playground to seemingly blow off some steam. Another one of the project’s strengths is its chilling production quality maintained for the entire runtime. The little details like record scratching, momentary changes to the beat and distant instruments on songs like “Crosstown” are important and necessary to prove that the music is unique. One of Kurious’ outstanding strengths is his special flow that has retained its grittiness and loose, casual precision. “My Kinda People” is a perfect example of his laidback style of dancing with and around the beat. Most of the songs on this project sound special, with the exception of one or two repetitive instrumentals or samples that hold back the song from being great. A few more songs and their most impressive aspects worth mentioning are: “Empty Space” and its alternating drums from smooth to more distinct at different points, the title track’s bold, powerful feature Mighty Buda, and “Dusty Rhodes” because of its more gloomy instrumental. 

The many different musical elements incorporated into 22 minutes is impressive and the perfect level of sounds and words mixing together make it all digestible and easy to listen to. Finally, the project earns an 8/10. Although almost everything about it is top-notch, the main thing slightly holding it back is repetitive instrumentals on 2 or 3 songs.