There were some people that were worried that the last EP from San Antonio group Chisme, released back in 2016, would be their last. That’s because the group’s producer, Progeny had moved to Seattle, and both he and emcee R.E.L. had released projects without the other. Well, you can put all your worries to rest, because we now have a new EP from the duo, Still Breathing.

It might have taken a minute for both R.E.L. and Progeny to get back on the same page and start writing and recording again, but one listen to this EP and you’ll quickly hear that they haven’t lost a step. There’s nothing too fancy about this release, just seven tracks of solid, Tex-Mex underground hip hop. They have a few friends stopping in as well, with Ceschi, Soultru, Apaso, and MexStep all adding some flavor to the mix. What it really boils down to, though, is the chemistry that Chisme have as a duo. Progeny does a great job of mixing in different influences to his production, from Tejano to prog rock to boom bap, and R.E.L. is always able to hop right into the pocket of each beat and spit his verses with ease. Over the course of the seven tracks, they are claiming their space, not just as a duo, but repping for San Antonio and Mexican American emcees as well. R.E.L. can talk his shit, but he can also get political and philosophical when the song calls for it as well. The whole thing just feels natural, one of those releases that feels familiar from the moment you press play.

It’s great to have Chisme back, and Still Breathing marks a nice return to form for the duo. Everything comes together with no filler. They have their fun, and they touch on some important subject matter along the way, all while making some hip hop that absolutely bumps. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another four years for the next release.