El Michels Affair & Black Thought — Glorious Game
After his collab album with Danger Mouse last year, Black Thought now teams up with El Michels Affair to deliver an album that is just as good as Cheat Codes
The album starts off with “Grateful”, one of the best production work and sampling occurs on the first track, as Black Thought spits bars over a sample of Shabba Ranks’ 1992 hit “Ting-A-Ling”. “Grateful” is an amazing intro and really sets the tone of the album, giving you the feeling that Black Thought is about to do it again by releasing another phenomenal project.
El Michels Affair’s production work on the album is incredible and he does a tremendous job of providing Black Thought beats that really fit well with his style, voice and delivery. “Protocol” featuring Son Little, incorporates a mixture of instruments that include drum and trumpets that fuses well in order to produce a fantastic upbeat instrumental. Whilst drums and trumpets are used on “Protocol”, the guitar work on the last track “Alter Ego” fits perfectly with the chorus; as Black Thought delivers introspective lyrics about depression, redemption and self-discovery. From a lyrical standpoint it’s one of Black Thought’s best works on the whole album. Added with the production and the repetition of “bye-bye” for the chorus, “Alter Ego” is one of the best songs on the whole album. If “Grateful” was a great way to open the album, “Alter Ego” was equally a great way to close the album.
The album’s use of background vocals and singers is used to perfection, to the point where the vocals seem to be another instrument that adds another great layer to the production. This is evident on records such as “I’m Still Somehow”, Michels production already has a form of mystique and eeriness to it, but the background vocals used on the song make the song even better. Other great vocal works are from the album’s featured singers, such as Son Little on “Protocol” and KIRBY on “Glorious Game”.
Already one of the greatest MCs to ever touch the mic, Black Thought gives examples as to why he holds such a title and also shows how he is aging like wine. His lyricism is on an incredible level throughout the album. Whilst he is introspective on the album’s last track, he also chooses to let loose and just show off his ability to rhyme effortlessly. One of the earliest examples of this is the second track “Glorious Game”, where Black Thought’s rhyme patterns are on display. On the album the Philly born MC also shares tales and stories. This is best shown on the sixth track, “The Weather”, where Black Thought takes the listener on a trip down memory lane, as he reminisces of past summers growing up in South Philadelphia.
In comparison to his album with Danger Mouse, Black Thought delivers an even better album with Michels. The Glorious Game is one of the best projects Black Thought has been a part of as a solo artist and continues this unprecedented run that he has had. The album is another example as to why Black Thought is held in such high regard and is revered as an MC. Credit must also be given to El Michels Affair and the production on the album, as he delivered production as good as Black Thought’s rapping. Glorious Game without doubt should be placed as one of the best albums of 2023.