Coming across an artist like Encognito is my favorite part of my work with Scratched Vinyl. Every once in a while, you get that random, unsolicited submission from a young artist that makes you sit up and take notice. It also helps matter that I’ve been to a few shows recently where I sat through plenty of opening acts where young emcees had technical issues to work out, but even more importantly, they were just regurgitating images that they had absorbed from TV and radio and didn’t feel genuine. To put it simply, there were a lot of road blocks in their way before I could even tell if they had any potential. In contrast, the first time I listened to A Soulstice Cancer, I simply enjoyed it as is. The seventeen-year-old emcee from California has an amazing sense of self that comes through in his music, and he conveys it with a maturity that most of his contemporaries lack.

Using beats from producers such as fLako, Nujabes, Freddie Joachim, Emancipator, Tsutchie, and Wisconsin’s own Nicholas J, Enocognito put himself in a position to succeed. The beats are subtle, interesting, and inventive, without becoming overpowering - perfect for a young emcee who wants to establish his lyrical skills. They also provide plenty of laid back, sunny grooves that the West Coast emcee seems very comfortable with. Taking inspiration from Milo (that’s right, the turnaround can be that quick these days), Encognito has come to embrace his awkward nerdiness, and drops some really moving personal stories in his songs. It also becomes apparent that Encognito also possesses a great sense of humor, one that he’s used to deal with the pain in his life. On the opening track, “Space Trip,” manages to walk the line between abstract imagery of traveling in outer space and the navigation of personal relationships. He follows that up with the laid back groove of “Humble Beginnings,” featuring Rigo, which is where the mixtape really jumps to the next level. Rigo’s verse is great, hinting that there’s more to this scene to explore (always exciting), and also weaves in his Hispanic roots seamlessly with a Spanish language hook that takes a page from other SoCal artists like Of Mexican Descent. It’s also on this track that we get are first exposure to the power of the political message hidden within the personal story, as Encognito relates how his parents have been deported from the country. He manages to cover a lot of ground with his debut, and I feel like I’ve gotten to know him as an artist very well by the time I got to the last track. My criticisms for this release are all fairly minor, and ones that I think he’ll figure out as he continues to write and record. There are a few points on the record, usually when vocals are being doubled that the flow becomes a little labored and doesn’t come across as easily as it could, and I think he could benefit from a few more hooks to help the songs stick around when the mixtape is over. Again, though, I think this will come with more experience.

A Soulstice Cancer is the most excited I’ve been in a while for a new release. There are a few established artists that met or exceeded expectations, but Encognito caught my ear out of nowhere. At a very young age, he shows great skill and maturity, making hip hop that is very much his own personality, and because of that, it’s very moving. I can’t wait to see what he does next.