Hailing from the Canadian cities of Regina and Saskatoon, new-wave rapper Jeah and dark R&B and soul vocalist Merv xx Gotti, aka Samurai Champs, have been raking in the acclaim of critics and music lovers since dropping their debut R&B single, “Crayons.”
On the heels of strong appearances at SXSW, The Great Escape, and new U.S. and U.K. tours spun off a wave of fresh singles like “Bae” and “Poseidon,” the duo has finally released their debut album, Cabernet Sauvignon.
The array of sounds, styles, moods, and beats – done with near-perfection – not only demonstrate the duo’s progression and diversity musically but also lyrically.
The opening track on Cabernet Sauvignon is the R&B/hip-hop love song, “Let Me Be Sad,” with some fine writing and vocal work followed by the synthy, anthemic single, “Dripping,” that booms with heavy bass lines, creative beats, tight raps and soulful choruses. Released as a single last year, this was one of the tracks that started things moving for Samurai Champs.
The track and much of the album were mixed by Toronto-based producer Michael Lantz, the recipient of two-time Polaris Music Prize-nominated and Juno Award-winning hip-hop artist, Jazz Cartier.
Modeling after the somber and passionate sounds of artists like Frank Ocean, Jeah and Gotti keep their vibes strong within a softened and groove-laden aesthetic that marks their signature sound.
For example, tracks like “Still Mine” and “Feeling That” really hit the good-vibe buttons; setting a relaxed, and passionate, late-night mood.
“Poseidon” is another good vibes track, but with more energy and brightness in the guitar and percussion parts. “Bae” is a smooth hip-hop number that takes its roots from 90’s R&B while still doing its own thing in 2019.
The mood of the album takes a hard, cold turn as Samurai Champs lay down more complex, dark tapestries that are more rap-oriented. Aggressive numbers “Midnight” and “Level” demonstrate this sea-change, with heavy, droning bass lines, sinister sound effects, trippy beats, and menacing raps.
The wordplay of “Midnight” explores how the mood shifts at parties as the night goes on and egos and jealousies emerge, wiping away the evening’s previous positive vibes.
The mood of those tracks stands in stark comparison to the more melodic, party-inspired, and R&B flow of the album. Comparisons have been made with artists like Majid Jordan, Bryson Tiller, and Smino.
The duo believes that mixing dark, cold hip-hop sounds with the sunny, soulful tones of Los Angeles will allow them to create ‘The New Sound Of The Prairies.’
While that may be the case, it is still Samurai Champs mix of contemporary hip-hop beats and R&B sounds, Jeah’s versatile rapping styles, and Gotti’s emotionally-charged lyrics and vocals that stand out the most about this rich album of impressive tracks. (Further evidence of such includes songs like “Loner” and the title track.)
From start to finish, the production quality is top-notch. Engineer and mixing pro Walt Jeworski (Usher, Paul Simon) worked intently with the pair to understand their different styles and backgrounds and what they were looking to achieve.
The heavy-hitter contributions to Cabernet Sauvignon also include the work of Grammy-Award winning mastering engineer Chris Athens (Kendrick Lamar, Nada Surf) who also mastered Drake’s debut album.
With such high-profile and experienced professionals – Lantz, Jeworski and Athens – involved in any project, the results are almost bound to be exceptional. Such is the case on this booming debut.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a diverse, rich and eclectic album that seeks, the duo wrote, to “blend and heighten the worlds of poetic R&B and vibrant hip-hop.”
“Like wine, all things get better with time,” they continue. “But time itself waits for no one. It’s our responsibility to shape the present in preparation for the future and it is also our responsibility to enjoy it while it lasts.”
