I had a whole intro written in my head about how I was ending my
URBNET hiatus and
returning to form with yet another Moka Only album, but the moment I heard "Put It On" I threw all of
that out the window. The song unapologetically uses the exact same RAMP
"Daylight" sample that A Tribe Called Quest used on "Bonita Applebum."
When I say "unapologetically" I mean that Moka's rhyme partner Ishkan
actually references a classic line from Q-Tip and rewords it a bit: "So
far, I hope you like our song." At that point you can't even knock Nowfolk
in any way -- you have to give it up to them for paying homage and respect
to the Tribe.
But who are Nowfolk, and where did "Magnesium Opium" come from? Both are
interesting questions. Ishkan was one of the prolific Moka's many partners in
crime over the years, and the two had already recorded two albums together under
the name Moniker in the late 1990's and early 2000's. (Side note - I need
to track those down.) Apparently they did a third album that by Moka's account
just didn't represent what they felt they were capable of, so they shelved it
and started recording THIS album under the new name of Nowfolk. Unfortunately
Moka's ADAT bit
the dust, and with no way to retrieve the sessions they had recorded yet another
album from the two wound up unreleased. A few years back when Moka got a new
ADAT he went back through his old tapes and put this Nowfolk album back together
again piece by piece.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem that Ishkan has a social media presence, as all
attempts to track him down lead me back to URBNET or Moka. I'm digging the vibe the two have as a unit
though, which coincidentally or not is some very Tribe vibe musically and
lyrically. Obviously the vocal tones are not the same. Moka's a little bit
like The Abstract in terms of his laid back mellow confidence, but Ish sounds
nothing like the hyperactive high pitched Five Footer (may he rest in peace).
He's actually got a very deep and bassy flow, and I'd almost say he'd sound
at home on any Southern rap album. It's more about the chemistry the two have
with each other in naturally complimenting their partner's vibe, and the fact
the tracks they rap on have a generally jazzy sound and style. And make no
mistake about it - tracks like "Yeah Yeah Yeah" are tailor made for boomin'
in ya boomin' in ya boomin' in ya Jeep.
This album is a curious artifact given it was recorded long enough ago to be a
Back to the Lab review, but because it never saw the
light of day before 2016 it's all brand new. What's more telling is that even
though it's 13 years old it doesn't sound dated. Okay so it doesn't have the
singing and AutoTuning that is so prevalent in commercial rap in 2016, but since
when has Moka followed trends or tried to be overtly mainstream anyway? If he
didn't tell you himself that this album was from 2003 you really wouldn't notice
and I think as praise goes for "Magnesium Opium" I can just leave it at that.
Music Vibes: 8 of 10
Lyric Vibes: 7 of 10TOTAL Vibes: 7.5 of 10
![[Magnesium Opium]](../coverart/nowfolk-Magnesium.jpg)
I had a whole intro written in my head about how I was ending my
URBNET hiatus and
returning to form with yet another Moka Only album, but the moment I heard "Put It On" I threw all of
that out the window. The song unapologetically uses the exact same RAMP
"Daylight" sample that A Tribe Called Quest used on "Bonita Applebum."
When I say "unapologetically" I mean that Moka's rhyme partner Ishkan
actually references a classic line from Q-Tip and rewords it a bit: "So
far, I hope you like our song." At that point you can't even knock Nowfolk
in any way -- you have to give it up to them for paying homage and respect
to the Tribe.