To boil Supremier down into a mainstream pop microcosm: it’s like a funkier Rocketeer by Far East Movement across 14 soulful tracks.Supremier is the debut album of Korean rap duo Simon D and E-Sens, coming after gaining a reputation with their previous mini-album for their fast-paced, ferocious flow aside their lovable charm.
Supreme Team’s premier with Supremier takes on funk-based rap, though not of the alternative Chili Peppers/Rage Against The Machine variety. Instead, they trade hip hop’s typical hard bass, electronic styling for smooth slap bass on a soulful jazzy backdrop to present their lyrical flows on a bed of uplifting beats that bring oldschool funk back to hip hop.
Hip hop lovers, don’t fret – the style takes hints from ’90s rap influences like Nas that sees a revival of hip hop with heart. It’s not all breezy rap though – there’s the occasional harder hit that goes with Supreme Team’s vicious side and plays out like signature tracks from Dr. Dre’s 2001 album.
The chill-out vibe is tipped with twangy guitar and smooth bass lines that play out like the lighter side of house music stars Daft Punk’s Discovery album, particularly tracks like High Life from that album.
That’s not to say it’s just one big blend of house-inspired background music – the verbal style of Simon D and E-Sens each have a unique flow and exuberance that sets their voices apart from oh-so-typical spoken word-over-beat formula of some contemporary rappers. The pair plays around with their styles, each having their own solo song that showcases their own technique.
The duo’s playful spirit comes out, both in the casual, upbeat sound of the album and the content. Musical celebrity artists like Gaeko of Dynamic Duo offer their signature vocals to tracks (with half of the tracks featuring different artists and producers lending their touch), including comedian Kim ShinYoung in a mid-album skit.
All in all, it’s an album that’ll make you feel good. For the hip hop lovers, it seeps rap in a refreshing dose of musical nostalgia from when rap had soul while bringing new sounds to the palette – especially for their own usual style that’s been typically harder, faster, and more agile on the lyrical tongue.
Just as Supreme Team end the album touting the relaxation of the high-life in the final track, Supremier will leave you feeling like you’re sippin’ Dom Perignon with some model chicks, laid back in your Jacuzzi and smoking a cigar.
