Review: Fimiguerrero, Len & Lancey Foux - CONGLOMERATE

This is a pivotal moment in UK music history. Fimiguerrero, Len & Lancey Foux combine to deliver a boundary-pushing collaborative album that will be referenced for years to come. The impact of these three artists on the current UK hip-hop scene cannot be understated. They are three of the most prolific and important figures in its existence and exposure. With this album, they work to put the world on notice. Spoiler alert: it's amazing.

Before diving into the nuances of CONGLOMERATE, it is important to note that the impact of this album arguably supersedes its actual intrinsic quality. Through their musical collaborations and live show presences, these three artists have been at the forefront of this emerging scene for some time now. Yet, their lack of egos or superiority complexes has paved the way for a momentous collaborative album, rarely seen by artists of such stature. With the scene gaining in popularity, and Len and Fimi having already released their own projects this year, CONGLOMERATE has arrived at the perfect time, displaying their efforts and growth up to this point.

Len is in RARe form on this project. He swaps out the largely melodic flows for an unrelenting and faster-paced rapping style. Yet, he sounds smoother than ever, effortlessly flowing between lines and rhyme schemes in his typical Lenglish. Packed full of quotables like 'Hennything is possible, white hoe with the red hair, Kimpossible' and 'told me I'm growing wings but she wanna meat and bone', Len snaps you back to reality with witty bars and clever wordplay. I don't know who told Len he had a point to prove with his rapping ability, but he certainly delivered.

Fimiguerrero does not display the same abundance of flow versatility as Len, typically flowing in the structured manner we have become accustomed to with his recent music. Yet, this rapping sounds extremely polished with an unwavering ability to find the pockets within this hectic production. When he does switch it up with less-structured and more rapid-fire flows on songs like 'After Life' and 'All My Cards', it offers a refreshing sound that displays Fimi's versatility in action. Fimi's ear for a hook is as impressive as ever on CONGLOMERATE. His choruses on 'Osbatt', 'Excuse My French' and many others display a unique part of Fimi's bag that not many others in the scene can challenge.

Huge kudos needs to be given to Lancey Foux on this project. Whilst letting Len and Fimi take centre stage, he delivers a mature and accomplished sound that acts as a glue for the entire project. Lancey's presence on songs like 'Blackbirds' and 'Ankle Lock' is commanding, yet not overpowering. With an extensive catalogue, we know what to expect from Lancey, and he typically delivers. His ability to sound natural on chaotic instrumentals is second-to-none. He deserves all the praise, and more.

Despite these three figureheads performing to the highest standard on this project, it would not be complete without stellar production from the likes of killthissonny, Chromes, ProdJayF, kelewya, and everybody else involved. The smooth rhythms and pulsating kick drum repetition on 'After Life' are akin to Len's signature sound, hence he sounds perfectly at home on this beat. In comparison, the electric, swirling synths combined with the punchy 808s on 'All My Cards' instead suit Lancey Foux to a tee. Then, the more stripped back, sample-based beat on 'Silhouette' allows Fimi's style to feel comfortable. Intertwined with these songs is multi-layered production with a variety of drum patterns, synths, guitars, sample usage, and every other instrument under the sun. This is especially evident on the beautiful chaos of 'Spanish Guitar', on which it is a mystery how Lancey and Fimi flow so effortlessly. Not enough can be said about the innovation of the production on this album.

Despite all that has been said, let's ignore the lyrics, the rapping and the intricacies of production, because this album is simply about how it makes you FEEL. The energy created from the sum of all these elements is unparalleled. It makes you want to dance, turn up, and go bar-for-bar all at the same time. As with the rest of the music from these artists, it's an album to move to. It insists on it. Whether that be in the club, in the car, or even alone, this energy is undeniable. The vibe that these artists and producers have curated is singular to this scene and gives it a clear identity. This energy being evident in collaboration only reinforces this. You can just FEEL it.

CONGLOMERATE is fun, exciting, innovative, and showcases the best of Fimi, Len and Lancey. In a few years time, we will look back on this project as a huge moment when the landscape of UK hip-hop (or however this may be categorized) shifts forever. Buckle up, it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Listen to the album here: