‘Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival: Songs For Sinners And Saints’ – closes off the era, and it contains yet more fantastic music.
To take the title at face value, there’s a certain Jekyll & Hyde duality to the way Killer Mike (de)constructs his identity. ‘BUSSIN BRICKS INTRO’ is an Atlanta rap crusher, the flows charging like cars down the highway, the muscular production straight out of legendary studio space the Dungeon.
There’s a certain sense of largesse at points. ‘HUMBLE ME’ bobs and weaves like a championship boxer, while ‘SLUMMER 4 JUNKIES’ offers some harsh truths from the other side of the tracks.
This is a project framed by hope, maturity, and redemption, though. ‘EXIT 9 (SCENIC ROUTE)’ is dominated by soulful flourishes, while the pleading ‘LORD PREPARE ME’ drops the tempo for some spiritual introspection. There’s even room for Anthony Hamilton’s ‘NOBODY KNOWS’ interpolation – the backing mirrors Loyle Carner’s ‘Nobody Knows (Ladas Road)’ but it goes somewhere new with it.
A revealing portrait of a fascinating figure in American music, ‘Songs For Sinner And Saints’ is also a reminder that Killer Mike is a simply superb rap technician. ’97 3-6 FREESTYLE’ offers arena-level atmospherics, the aptly titled ‘HIGHER LEVEL’ moves past his peers, before crisp closer ‘STILL TALK’N THAT SHIT’ seems to offer a different direction right at the finale.
Closing off his autobiographical ‘Michael’ era in scintillating style, Killer Mike offers up more bravura creativity right at the finish line. ‘Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival: Songs For Sinners And Saints’ may be unwieldy, but its inviting, and has so much to explore.
