Artist: SpaceGhostPurrp
Title: Mysterious Phonk: The Chronicles Of SpaceGhostPurrp
Label: 4AD
Rating: 6.4

The new album from SpaceGhostPurrp is to be released via 4AD on June 12th and compiles both new and old material. Mysterious Phonk: The Chronicles Of SpaceGhostPurpp contains eleven tracks listeners might recognize from previous mix tapes along with three brand new tracks. The 21 year old producer and MC quotes his influences as Three 6 Mafia, UGK, DJ Paul, Eazy E, Tupac and DJ Screw. A key part of the underground hip-hop community SpaceGhostPurrp also leads the collective Raider Klan who have built their aesthetic on skate culture iconography and hardcore rap values.

“Mystikal Maze”, like many of the older tracks, was on the God Of Black MixTape, it’s full of atmospheric bass lines and woozy background noise. The lyrics match the aggressive feel of the opener; “Look me in the fuckin’ eye and feel my pain, as I share blood, tears as I spell your name”. “Bringing The Phonk” is up-beat with similar eery, schizophrenic background noise behind the lyrics and high pitched electronic melody.

“Osiris of the East” begins with low drum sounds and squeaks, Purrp commands; “what can I say? You should pray to me now”. “Suck A Dick 2012” opens with electronic beeps over a female heavy breathing and groaning – you guessed it, it’s a song about oral sex. Later on in the album “Elevate” contains more breathy, groaning noises in the background, however this song is about keeping to yourself and gang culture.

Another reference to the underground hip-hop culture comes in “Been Fweago”, a track about a circle of life involving money, girls and drugs. He spouts; “can’t get a job, hustle for the money, you can’t get bitches if you ain’t got money, and ain’t that funny, money is my god, I worship money” The rhymes run over industrial sounding bass. “The Black God” has a slow, old school vibe, Purrp references the title; “I’m no longer a black man, I’m a black god”. “No Evidence” is another low key track with minimal backing beats and more murky, atmospheric white noise.

Closing track “Raider Prayer” is as spacey as the rest of the album with squelchy bass, low pitch melody and more reference to ignoring the rest of the world and keeping to yourself to stay out of trouble. The title is a reference to his collective Raider Klan. Mysterious Phonk: The Chronicles Of SpaceGhostPurrp is a deep, dark album showcasing Purrp’s hallucinogenic rhymes and off-kilter production.

Reviewed by Heather Welsh.