Curren$y & The Alchemist: Continuance

- If New Orleans rapper Curren$y and legendary producer The Alchemist have one thing in common, it’s that they can’t stop dropping music. In between releasing at least five projects a year each, the two still find time to collaborate for full-length records. While Curren$y never strays far from his hazy, smoked-out style, The Alchemist knows how to back with a blend of soulful, laidback production. The duo joins forces again, for the first time since 2018’s Fetti, with an album entitled Continuance.

Opening track Half Moon Mornings is an early-morning short flight to Miami as the sun rises behind the dark clouds. Alchemist is a master at production that I want to hear as soon as I wake, with laidback 1970’s-esque funk synths and rolling female vocal samples. Curren$y comes in smooth and sets the scene for the project with boastful brags of beautiful women decked out in Stan Smiths, champagne on the ice and of course, his weed, which must be the finest. The little touches in his bars can be hilarious: for instance, noting that you don't want to be in his block after dark as the Ubers will definitely not show up.

Maybe it’s the Boldy James stan in me but you do not put the Detroit rapper on the first verse as he will simply steal the show. No Yeast sees Boldy in his bag after so much practice over Alchemist’s drum-less, repeating soul samples with references to the finer things in life, the ones that come from running your city. Curren$y follows suit, adhering to the theme, as he strives to win in life, not just for himself, but for those around him. No Yeast is easily the best cut on the project and could join the plethora of Alchemist produced tracks that make my favourites of the year.

Whale Watching is a low-key Alchemist beat as the bass and guitar sections play fiddle to each other with supporting hard-hitting claps. Curren$y and guest rapper Styles P are on their mob-dealing grind as they rap slow and smooth to support the production cleanly. The two rappers have a fantastic beginning to each verse with ongoing bars detailing what the production sounds like to them, such as a hundred dollars in a wad or being the alpha wolf in the den.

The back end of the project is more reflective which is a nice switch up from the smoky brag rap of earlier tracks. Jodeci Tape sees Alchemist become moodier, with the keys, with softer bass sections supporting. Curren$y is not only reminiscing on his career but also the women he’s left behind and those who have died trying to make it.

Closer Kool & the Gang is a love-letter to Curren$y’s infant son who he is glad will never have to suffer now that the rapper has money. It is little touches to the subject matter such as these that make Curren$y stand out in a sea of weed rappers concerned only with smoke tracks. Alchemist backs with rainy-day keys reminiscent of classic Roy Ayers that twinkle under Curren$y’s bars.

Continuance is a damn solid rap project that feels like Al and Curren$y are in the studio not to make a classic or to stunt, but just because they can. The partnership between the two feels natural and shows a clear understanding of each other’s strengths as well as what the audience both expects and wants. At a short thirty-seven minutes, Continuance is perfect for a highway trip as the smooth production and rapping pass you by.

- James Chadwick.