XJ9

Pink Navel jigsaws autobiography, sound gags, and politics into a puzzle worth piecing together on EPIC.

Pembroke’s Pink Navel jigsaws autobiographical snippets, social-media savvy, political commentary over soothing jazzy samples and choice beats on our highlighted track “XJ9.”

There’s a prevailing sense of humor throughout the rapper’s most recent release EPIC, but you sense an oblique message is being communicated. If not firsthand, then secondhand, through the junkyard of pop cultural detritus that Pink Navel digs up and puts on display for the listener. Shades of MF Doom (RIP) in wry rhyming and kitchen-sink soundscapes. Shades of Biz Markie in the occasional strangulated forays into speak/song: “OH BABEE YOOOO-OOO.” Shades of Paul’s Boutique in the tripped out sample-scapes. Shades of his entirely own thing.

Extra points for the Moxie shout out.

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