Artist: McKinley Dixon
Album: Magic, Alive!
Label: City Slang
Link: www.mckinleydixon.com
Style: Rap, Hip Hop
This American rapper was born in Maryland before moving to Virginia, where he attended Commonwealth University in Richmond. He threw himself fully into music in 2015, at the age of 20, and his first album was released in 2016. However, it wasn’t until his third album, For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her, that he achieved critical acclaim thanks to his sophisticated lyrics and instrumentation. In ten years and five albums, McKinley Dixon has carved out a place for himself among hip-hop artists whose productions are eagerly awaited and scrutinized by specialists in the genre.
Known for the narrative power of his lyrics, McKinley Dixon takes a step away from the introspection of his previous albums, preferring instead to explore the feelings of a group of young people facing the loss of one of their own. Musically, he remains true to his love of jazz, which provides a rich and warm backdrop for his compositions. Far from the stereotypical image of aggressive rap with broken rhythms, the atmosphere reflects the rapper’s long, relaxed voice. A few tracks pick up the pace, but they fit perfectly into the flow of the album.
Although Hip-Hop-oriented, the music on Magic, Alive! showcases acoustic instruments. Numerous brass instruments illuminate the compositions, and even the percussion is not the result of a software: it is played by drummer Desean Gault. The backing vocals of the various guest artists reinforce the fluidity of the tracks. Without achieving the cohesion of a live performance, it is the organic connection between the flesh-and-blood musicians that you feel when listening to this album. Added to this is the meticulous arrangement of all the instrumental lines, which makes for pleasant listening even on high-fidelity systems.