Mach-Hommy - #RICHAXXHAITIAN
#RICHAXXHAITIAN is an introspective foray in underground hip-hop where the real-time occurrences on the streets parallel the ancestral history of the rappers' roots in a socio-politically conscious way, without losing the sense of charm that made Hommy a household name to begin with.
I've heard some of Mach-Hommy's previous material go in and out of my rotation for the past few years, including some of the lead singles he released for his critically acclaimed "Pray for Haiti" project released in 2021, and some of the features he had with his contemporaries like Westside Gunn. But this album is my first formal experience into the world and origins of Mach-Hommy and for a first taste, I'm really enjoying what I'm hearing. It's become more rare to my ears that an underground artist can fit multiple styles into a project and still come out as consistent and on top of the game in a while, and on this album in particular, Hommy's attention to detail from his rapper and producer collaborators, to his unparalleled lyrical game, and the holistic replay-ability of certain tracks makes this album one of the strongest statements in the underground rap scene we'll get this year.
Now you would think at first glance that the versatility factor of Hommy's rapping would be an achilles heel to the flow of the project, as many of the tracks change up certain sound pallets so the same downtrodden, drumless style of rapping that's he's been used to doesn't come of as blatantly redundant. But would emerging out of different styles of rap add to the overall consistency of the album? In most aspects, yes. What wows me and attracts me to Hommy's presence as an underground artist is that while his main voice continues to sound low and velvety over a variety of instrumentals, he always maintains care when crafting certain songs.
On this album in particular, his Haitian roots and ancestral history remain at the forefront of the album, as Hommy uses this oral history to his advantage when digging into themes of class separation, becoming products of our capitalist society, income inequality, urban struggle, and everything around it. But these points that he connects with never feels like it's to far of a stretch for him. In fact, much of the songs utilize the previously known strengths within his lyrical style and delivery, makes distinctions between his personal past and the present moment, and complements that with a hefty list of singers, rappers, and producers to back him up with maintaining the consistency this album rests upon.
While the cover might suggest otherwise, #RICHAXXHAITIAN feels like Hommy is ripping the bandana off his face and opening up before your eyes to craft together his most personal offering of work yet. The intro has him rapping entirely in Haitian Creole and other tracks on here include references to Haitian culture and events like the Haitian Diaspora, having affected generations upon generations of his kind. It doesn't always go over perfectly per se, but when he "lifts the mask" and lets his true persona shine through the tracks, this is where the album resonates with me the most.
I also think the features complement Hommy throughout this journey, as the change up in styles and subject matter adds to the holistic appearance of the project. There's of course his underground counterparts like Roc Marciano, Your Old Droog, and even The Roots' Black Thought who do an effective job at complementing Hommy's versatile delivery. And the producer list from long time collaborators like Conductor Williams and Quelle Chris, to sudden beat change-ups from Kaytranada on the title track, make the album feel like your traveling through a series of moments in the rapper's history, but no matter what, your along for the ride.
Besides some filler moments within the tracklist, including two interludes where the commentary the alum rests upon is almost directly said to the listener's face in order for them to force a change of perspective, and some shorter tracks which didn't leave as much impact on me as some of the better moments, I really enjoyed what we're presented with on this album, and it's convincing me to go back through Mach-Hommy's discography and see what I've been missing. This isn't the most groundbreaking project from the underground rap scene as of recent, but probably one of the most consciously prolific rap albums we'll get in 2024. Don't miss out on this one.
Favorite Tracks: ANTONOMASIA, POLItickle, SONJE, SUR LE PONT d’AVIGNON, THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW, COPY COLD, #RICHAXXHAITIAN, LON LON, SAME 24, HOLY __
Least Fav: EMPTY SPACES
8.5/10
