Review: "Chapel Ceilings" EP by Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the God
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Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god spit incredibly wild bars on the DOPE collaborative project “Chapel Ceilings”. Already sounding downright classic with the clever deep-cut sampling, the flows on here are fantastic. The lyricism has a tremendous wit behind it, one that informs the entirety of the journey.
Here, Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god forgo the contemporary trends to come up with something a lot more classic. Elegant, stately, the presence on here reveals a series of rappers that run through creating a completely engrossing universe one entirety of their own creation.
Their ability to blend the highbrow and lowbrow gives them a literary bent. Nods to great storytellers like Biggie Smalls certainly appear over the course of the journey. Everything about it feels fully lived in and raw. An intimacy is introduced over the entirety of the EP, one that seems almost uncomfortably close at times. Part of this is due to their delivery style – quiet, subdued, yet absolutely nimbly running through the verses.
For the rest of the sound, Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god incorporate a noir-jazz setting, that at times brings to mind the well-listened ears of MF Doom. Yet, for all of these reference points, theirs is a sound that does essentially feel so completely unique compared to a lot of hip-hop out there today.
“Super Lemon Row Boat” starts things up with an easy listening clip before the lyricism proves to be a compelling counterpoint. A confrontational spirit bursts onto the scene with “Been Nuts”, Yung Next and JubElectron, for he commands the mic. Much dreamier with its attitude, “See the Stars” embraces an ethereal quality with the song simply floating on into the infinite. Drums have a dusty flavor on the nimbleness of “Sam Porter Bridges”, with Yung Next.
The highlight serves as the title track “Chapel Ceilings”, featuring Sayzee. Starkly real, the song’s darkness and meditative quality feels harrowing. Like a track melting away “Double Barrel” seems to be transmitted from a whole other world. On “The Golden Ratio”, with DJ K-Flip, they end things on a triumphant note.
“Chapel Ceilings” shows a wide range of Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god’s ability to tie together a whole plethora of emotions, from outright fire to quiet contemplative moments.