“Valid & Victorious” – Review Of Mally’s The Passion

After a two-year hiatus Twin Cities emcee Mally is back with a follow-up to 2007′s The Letter. Equipped with a shorter name, he dropped “From The 612,” he’s ready to introduce himself to some and reintroduce his self to others. Over a succinct set of Soul infused backdrops, Mally wields a flow as cold as a Minnesotan winter & a wit to match. On The Passion, he shows he’s not just one to watch from the land of 10,000 Lakes, but in Hip-Hop period.

From a tool standpoint Mally’s got it all. He’s got a commanding voice, fluid flow & is proficient when it comes to weaving metaphors, similes, punch lines, internal rhymes & alliteration together. He’s also got a knack for going a step beyond what have become cliché lines nowadays. On the title track, “The Passion,” he isn’t just raw on the mic, he’s “war spelled backwards.” Or on “How I Do” he doesn’t just 187 the beat he, “360 slash 2/plus 7 beats.” Sure he’s still saying the same thing, but by doing so it rewards the listeners who are paying attention and makes for rewind worthy moments. So intent to showcase his skills, Mally dwells a little too much on how skilled he is emceeing on the first half of the album. Chorus’ are an afterthought on most songs and his 32+ bar odysseys will wear some down at times, making songs blend together.

Starting with “Valid & Victorious” he tones down the lyrical dexterity a bit and actually crafts full fledged songs. Over a jubilant piano loop, Mally actually uses his words to paint a picture of his life and stands out among all the braggadocio going on around it.  “Reflection” finds him taking stock on his life, on “Ex Girl 2 Next Girl” he laments the one that got away & “Remember That” he lets the competition know he won’t be going away anytime soon.  When he delves more into his personal experiences and life, Mally becomes more accessible for the listener.

Miami based producer Mydus, who produced the entire album, provides a collection of cohesive beats that allow Mally to shine. The two have a chemistry together that should only grow stronger if they continue to work together.  Despite all of his skills, Mally’s biggest asset may be his passion.  You can hear it in both his voice and words that he enjoys what he’s doing.  In a day when people use rapping as a stepping stone to other money making avenues it’s refreshing to hear someone genuinely in love with the craft.  Another rarity these days is the brevity of The Passion.  The nine tracks on which he actually raps clock in around 40 minutes and he really begins to hit his stride as the album closes out, leaving you wanting to hear more.  Which is definitely better than going through the track list and deciphering what should’ve been left off.  At 23, time is on Mally’s side and the future is bright for him and he knows it.  All we have to do is wait for him to put it all together.

Download — Mally – The Passion