Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Kii began writing songs at the age of 10 and has since pursued his passion for music through education at Rider University and Los Angeles Film & Recording School. With a budding career that’s seen opening acts for Migos, he presents his latest album, “Maurnb: The Year Was” — keep reading for my thoughts!
The six-track EP opens with “STREETS” — and from the start of the track, the heavy RnB sound of this record begins to shine through — be it the low, rumbling basses, or the clean, gentle vocals, the track sets the lights dim from the start — all while the synths build up to a beautiful energy in the background. The track is held together rather well by the steady, slow percussion, setting a solid foundation to what’s to come on the rest of the album.
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Switching gears a little, we move on to “4 THE WEEKEND” — Bringing on Montel as a featured artist, Kii sets the stage again, bringing a higher energy to the fore on this track — be it the deep, thumping percussion, or the wafty ad-libs in the background, this track has an energy and an atmosphere that’s simply unmistakable; and as we start to reach the halfway point on “Maurnb: The Year Was”, energies climb and spirits remain high as ever.
The rest of the tracks on “Maurnb: The Year Was” are dotted by more exploration in terms of the sonic structures, the melodic writing particularly a standout; and the use of heavy natural atmospheric elements and time bending on “NAKED” bringing a raw charisma to the sound. “OPTIONS” keeps this going with a thundering rainstorm in the background, lending it a deep, earthly sound — and as we bring “Maurnb: The Year Was” to a close with “WHO CRIES IN A MAYBACH”, the album comes full circle in its sound indeed.
The album is dotted with innovative sound production and design that hits more than a few numbers right — be it the vocal sampling work or the acoustic basses that pop up from time to time throughout “Maurnb: The Year Was”, there’s a certain charm and character to the sound of the album that I quite appreciated — and the mixing is solid too! The staging is excellent, and listeners are seldom left wanting for more.
All in all, “Maurnb: The Year Was” — a solid RnB album that’s guaranteed to set the mood — no matter the time of day. A record that gets the fundamentals of the genre dead on, this one is a must-listen! Check out the album here:
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