Hit-Boy & The Alchemist both can rap better than some of their collaborators, but is it enough to fill an album?
This album hit me right away. Maybe it’s because we’re finally getting back to an era where rap albums actually have energy again. I’m all for slow soul loops and moody samples, which this album has plenty of, but man — I’m glad this one’s got drums. Real bounce. Something I can play in the car after work without zoning out halfway through the verse.
The Goldfish feels like two masters of their craft having fun. I imagine that Hit-Boy and Alchemist made this album between sessions for others, and both make the kind of beats that wake your head up, and what’s crazy is they’re both nice on the mic too. That’s not new, but it still surprises me every time. The chemistry is just right — nothing forced, nothing flashy, just a couple of producers rapping over the kind of music they actually want to hear. In the era of producers not always being bar heavy when they are in the booth, these two stand and deliver.
The guest list is tough too — Boldy James, Havoc, Conway, and a few more names that make perfect sense for this sound. It feels like a fully thought-out project, not a random playlist of beats.
Business Mergers might be my favorite cut. The line “my circle so small it’s closer to a dot” . That’s real grown-man talk right there. The track with Machine, Mick & Cooley is another standout — Conway sounds completely at home over this kind of production. I’m betting it’s an Alchemist beat, but who knows; these two blur that line so well.
Home Improvement is a sleeper. It’s got nasty keys and drums that sound like something between 2015 R&B and 1988 hip-hop — and somehow, it’s also modern. The beat feels familiar but fresh, which kind of sums up the whole project.
These aren’t my favorite rappers in the world, but this record doesn’t need that. It’s about mood and craftsmanship. Two producers making an album that sounds full, consistent, and intentional.
The Goldfish feels like a reminder — rap doesn’t have to be stripped down or minimalist to hit, and it also doesn’t need to rock a party. Sometimes it’s okay to bring the consistent energy to make an enjoyable drive home from work.