Nolan & Mr. Filthy “Midwest Funk”

Funk is an integral part of HipHop. From James Brown to the Parliament hiphop from infancy has payed homage to funk. Notable pairings such as The DOC and Dr.Dre, Dre and Snoop Doggy Dog, Ice Cube and The Lynch Mob, and groups like Cypress Hill have been considered the forefathers for cultivating this sound. This West Coast influence can still be heard littered in contemporary music of the day. Inspired by the aforementioned the Midwest & West Coast paring of Nolan & Mr. Filthy dedicate their whole album paying homage on their latest full length effort titled “Midwest Funk” set for a December 24, 2019 release. 

“Funk!” Is the opening the track which enraptures the listener from the onset bursting through laced with a funk induced juicy moog bass line. Nolan vocals hovers over the instrumentation assisted by autotune pitch correction while he freestyles carefree letting the lyrics come as they may. This is an intriguing introduction embedded with an exhilarating aura. 

“Candy Paint” is theatric in production as Mr. Filthy enlists a suspenseful backdrop while Nolan freestyles “Beat by Mr Filthy, heat by Nolan yeah I’m chosen”. This beat is infectious and captivating and Nolan whimsically flows along.

“Henny Remix” is a smooth cut laced with moxie and panache. The musicians curate a trance inducing g-funk bounce. The production is alluring the composer formulates a running bass line thats ultra groovy with superb movement. Nolan flow and cadence is right in the seam unearthing clever wordplay and creating a fun filled milieu. 

“Flyin’ Higher” is equipped with soundscapes layered with jazzy offbeat keys and a moog groove bringing the muddy funk to this cut. Producing their own reincarnation of a D.O.C inspired cut this record is boisterous and aggressive. The chorus brings in plush chords creating a sedated sensation. Nolan navigates and finds a pace unleashing verses effortlessly. 

“Allergic” finds the pair creating a funky tune relegated to the ladies. The high key piano is captivating and the beat transitions are enticing while the Detroit artist issues a caveat to all females who demand too much of his time. 

“Westside” utilizes an arpeggio in the intro  Mr.Filthy creates anticipation for the drop and once it comes in the g-funk elements conjure up nostalgia. The synth bass saturates the lower end frequencies while the high pitched sine synth solidifies the sound. The West Michigan artist flows in stride while featuring an amazing guest appearance from Audio Porn members Yung Flacko & Ghost. 

“Psycho” is a dark themed cut using the template of underground hard hitting ghoulish records. Sonically reminiscent of 90s gothic weed posse cuts like those procured by Cypress Hill.  Nolan and Mr. Filthy deliver their own spooky rendition.  

“THC” finds Nolan stepping it up lyrically penning a verse doused in ambivalence. Mr. Filthy brings in a different template attempting to cover all the bases in his g-funk arsenal. 

“Midwest Funk” incorporates the legendary g-funk elements evoking nostalgia and rhythm. When an album is full produced by one producer what one can expect is cohesion. Although, they offer an array of different funk elements, the cohesion is evident between this pairing. This album is rooted in funk with all the instrumentation, and arrangements flourish creating a mesmerizing effect. The funk is filthy as Mr. Filthy brings it and Nolan nonchalantly elicits different styles to suit each composition showing his innate ability to rhyme. This is a groovy piece set to take you into funky town and does a compelling job of doing so. Midwest Funk is a trip down memory lane that incorporates new ways to embrace the funky sounds today.