Dissection Maps – Old Saw
Old Saw
Dissection Maps
November 30, 2024
It has been just over 5 years since M Huncho appeared on Kenny Allstar’s Mad About Bars for what would be one of the most viewed videos on YouTube channel Mixtape Madness, let alone the second most popular episode of the freestyle series. This undoubtedly being his first steps into the notoriety he has now achieved, the artist has progressed with his trademark sound balancing breakout singles alongside formidable mixtapes Utopia and Huncholini the 1st. Chasing Euphoria, though, feels like an even larger leap forward.
The maturity the artist displays belies the relatively short amount of time he has spent in the UK hip-hop/trap scene. There is a more cool and calculated approach to unravel his own story on this album. This is evident throughout, from the quiet storm of an opener Unappreciated to The Worst which takes the listener into the conclusion of the album, M Huncho regales us with tales of his come up and the ever-present aspect of family that seems to stand stalwart in his mind. These slower, more thoughtful tracks show a performative prowess that the artist has been building up throughout his discography.
More organic instrumentation creeps in too, with a selection of songs that will have fans hoping a live drummer is bought on for his next tour. Me and My Conscience finds M Huncho questioning whether to take his trademark face covering off and return to his old ways over an expansive, trippy beat that coasts smoothly, supported by friend and collaborator Potter Payper. Cage Beats-produced Vivid plays out similarly, with a feelgood live drumloop and the artist being flanked by UK legends Wretch 32 and Ghetts.
Needless to say the features and production are stacked with talent, from drill landlord Giggs to grammy award-winning producer JAE5. Chasing Euphoria finds collaborators from overseas as well, with American producer Harry Fraud offering an incredible highlight on Slight More Rain. Though it must be said, M Huncho’s main partner in crime, Quincy Tellem, remains his trustworthy confidante as the artist takes on his first official studio album.
The artist themselves seems to land sturdily into each atmosphere the album produces. Whether it be Who We Are where he croons over a melodious guitar-led beat to the heavy-handed Lean in which he skips effortlessly over a slushy trap beat, cutting in confidently with the track’s hook. It is fair to say M Huncho has always been able to hold his own, but on Chasing Euphoria he seems to settle that little bit more comfortably on the beat.
It is hard to think of one highlight from M Huncho's first studio album. He reaches into a growing web of different genres for influence, and shows a talent for switching the narrative from one direction to the next. He bounces confidently in features and captivates in songs where he is alone. But though the album is varied, what remains a constant is the artist's unique and enthralling sound. His voice finds the listener through his trademark phasing autotune effect that makes his voice slip in and out of consistently engaging music and enables him to walk his own path expressing himself.