Supply & Demand
The underground wavemakers come together in perfect harmony to lay out the best of what the UK and the US have to offer. As both are well-versed in collaborative projects, this latest addition to their discography brings out a new side in both of them, furthering their musicality and in that, creating a refreshing sound through the 11-track album. Bringing together West-London’s resident wordsmith with NYC’s all-encompassing producer, this project comes as a meticulous midpoint for both artists to reimagine their musicianship.
Welcoming you into this explorative project, the soulful and cinematic opener ‘Level Up’ lulls you in with its emotive keys and lingering horns whilst V Don fills the spaces around Apex’s verse with his eerie ad-libs. The West-London rapper’s effortless wordplay and natural delivery bring a relaxed vibe to this track before moving into the title track. ‘Supply & Demand’ again leans you in with its detailed production, placing you in the centre of the narrative. Apex switches up his flow for a melodic hook, sporadically rapping and ad-libbing around the instrumental. The intrigue is built with every off-kilter flow over this singular production, honing a variety of influence from the very start.
Continuing on, the lead single ‘UK Shit’ acts perfectly in switching up the dynamic. Bringing its haunting instrumentation, perfectly interwound with the heavy, bass-induced percussion. Opting for a hazier, jazz-infused sound ‘Life Goes On’ brings an ethereal backdrop for the rapper to lay out his verses with V Don coming in for a lowkey, soulful hook.
Bringing in the first feature of the project, ‘Wise Woke’ enlists Michigan’s Willie The Kid to paint his vivid lyricism over this dark, lo-fi track. Heading into the projects midway interlude, the track ends with an explanation of the concept of ‘Supply & Demand’ before moving into ‘Stages (Interlude)’. This track spanning under a minute sees Apex repeating the hook over it’s tranquil instrumentation contrasted by its infrequent percussion.
Taking on a slick, jazz-horn, hip-hop feel, ‘Summer Murda’ holds a spotlight on Apex as he freely moves through this narrative-driven track, incorporating smooth and gentle vocals in the distance. Moving into the final track released before the project, ‘Belize’ featuring NYC's Pro Era member CJ Fly holds a heavier, bass-lined sound. The rapper’s flows come in perfect cohesion, with both able to hold their own with their colourful lyricism and poetic tendencies.
Coming to the final section of the project ‘Wax Cough’ again brings in old, atmosphere-lined jazz samples under simple percussion, allowing Apex to move with ease through his short verse. ‘Raw Elegant’ holds the final feature of the project, this time with LA-heavyweight Murs. Commencing with its octave jumping keys, the track quickly escalates into an old-school, hip-hop sound whilst still maintaining its authenticity in its ever-intriguing production. This track comes as a great way to start rounding out the project with its all-encompassing sound, concluding this expansive album.
Finally, ‘Miyagi Blueprint’ allows a space for the West-London artist and NYC soundscaper to lay down their final word. Heavily percussive, yet nuanced with its intriguing synths, this track continues to show the best of the diverse artist’s abilities. Coming together to create something different from their previous work, the pair perfectly capture a unique world within this all-embracing project.