For those who may not have heard about indie hip hop’s favorite aunties, it’s high time you tap into the goodness that Blimes & Gab have gifted us on their debut collaborative project, Talk About It. I first heard of these two talented ladies in early 2018 when their first single as a duo, “Come Correct,” landed on the internet and reached huge heights. Everyone and their friends were talking about this track faster than a sleazy highschool rumor, but once I watched the video, I was immediately hooked. The chemistry between Blimes Brixton and Gifted Gab is undeniable, and like the title of the song, made no mistakes in their lyrical skill and execution.
Talk About It, executive produced by Adrian Miller, clocks in at 45 minutes with 12 songs, four skits, and a whole lot of dopeness in-between. The introductory track, “Baptism,” makes use of a hymn-like vocal sample and ushers in Gab and Blimes in the smoothest possible manner. There is a lot of back and forth on this cut and the duo brings that raw uncut hip-hop with lines like “Y’all be taking double L’s like you hang around the J / Y’all not down to blaze with two girlies from around the way.” The follow-up track “Sacred” has a lush funk guitar and West Coast bounce to keep your head nodding. The duo delivers a relatable message of keeping the right people around you when the poo hits the fan. There is also a nice melodic chorus on this track showcasing their musical versatility.
There is no question or doubt about the lyrical abilities of Blimes & Gab, so I must confess that I was somewhat particular about the soundscapes used for the entire project. I wasn’t thoroughly surprised but rather pleased they decided to try various styles and sounds as opposed to sticking to one, like trap or boom-bap. Tracks like “No Samples” and “Feelin It” make use of trap elements while the ladies get their flow on like no man’s business. The RnB- infused “Hungover With You” gives the listener a whole different perspective as they kick risque lines like “…And I’m working with a flame thrower now am way sober, that good dick can kill a hangover…” The track grooves and the sung chorus raises the ante.
Core rap fans will surely enjoy the hard-hitting, gritty sounds of the title track, as once again, we get to hear the ladies in their purest form, dishing out insight, “…Poppa was a rolling stone, always dipping no was home/ Macaulay Culkin, home alone didn’t seem much/ Momma is a warrior, didn’t wanna worry her, but I move work like a courier truck…” The next track “Un Deux Trois” is a laidback bass-laden track that will rattle your speakers; the ladies come through with their charismatic personas and all. Blimes kicks it off with lines like, “Never miscarry friends, that’s dead weight/ Ben Franks will never make my head change.” While Gab follows up with a melodic flow, “I’m blowing up, you can check my mentions/ I get checks, collect and invest them/I pull up and rev up my engine/Hop out don’t need clout to impress ’em…” The song also comes with Pulp Fictiony visuals, which you can check below.
Talk About It doesn’t lag or bog down the listener with unnecessary elements, and the songs hit the mark while offering different sounds. The skits are hilarious and help seamlessly tie the entire project. Regarding guest features, these are far and in-between as the aunties held it down from start to finish. Iamsu! shows out on the bouncy “Magic,” the hard-hitting remix of “Hot Damn” features legendary MC Method Man, and the final cut, “My Way,” has Philly rap veteran Bahamadia turning heads.
Overall, the project will stand the test of time for its accessibility and varied sounds. The raps are solid and the ladies don’t miss a beat throughout the project, and for the most part, they don’t take themselves too seriously, showing us that you can be a lyricist and still have fun at the same time.
Watch the video for “Shellys (It’s Chill)” below:
Listen to the entire project via Spotify.
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