The sophomore effort from the EMAN x VLOOPER has landed without much fanfare, considering their first album “XXL” should be conversation for best Quebec Rap album ever.
The two members of Quebec-Montreal collective Alaclair Ensemble are once again in perfect unison on “La Joie”.
Vlooper’s production that oscillates between his more traditional boom bap jazzy/soulful roots, the more futuristic beat scene styles as well as experimentations with more contemporary rap sounds. Eman (your favourite Quebec rapper’s favourite Quebec rapper) as usual proves his Division 1 chops on the mic. They should be mentioned next time you think of best producer + MC duos.
“La Joie” feels like where hip-hop should be in 2017. Honouring the past but looking to the future. Not falling for tired backpack clichés but knowing that you just can’t put any clown MC behind an auto-tune effect. I remember the feeling of blasting 2014’s “XXL” while on a San Francisco trip, and as I leave for a month in Europe I’m positive that “La Joie” will be in constant rotation.
“La Joie” released August 25, 2017 on Bandcamp
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