This versatile vocalist and emcee of excellence combine and create an endlessly replayable moment.
Borilin is a sonically versatile artist who uses his voice as an instrument along with the production he chooses. His lyrics are often dreamy on subjects of love and loss, with sprinkles of brashness, while the delivery may counter. His sound is all his own, but if I were to make comparisons for the sake of familiarity, fans of 070 Shake and other universe-building, genre-meshing vocalists would enjoy Borilin’s music. Al-Doms is a rapper who’s captivatingly thoughtful lyricism has propelled him beyond his home state of VA to the bustling streets of Brooklyn, NY. Al-Doms doesn’t sound like anyone (after some hard thinking…I hear some Jay-Z and J.I.D), but he’s been hailed as the best rapper to come out of Virginia since his legendary fellow Norfolkian Pusha-T. So, imagine if Push’ started rapping 10 years ago and flowed faster on beats…there you have it. Both artists have been stapes within the scene that helped developed them, making waves around the same time in 2015-2018 with their respective collectives (Al with iLPACKMOBB and Borilin with IIIDAZE). Now, their work done and worlds built can be seen in a new light, together.
“HEROES” is an uptempo song produced by Mathaius Young that gives the feeling of a warm-ups right before game time. The track sounds straight off of a NBA or NFL 2K Soundtrack, which is fitting considering Al-Doms’ recent 2K24 placement. Borilin displays his range and raps on the first verse, cleverly making a nod to the featured artists’ debut EP, New Dream: “Baby this a 2-peat, I can give you new dreams.” Al-Doms builds upon the energy provided by Borilin and Mathaius by adding bar after bar, briefly explaining his perspective of being hailed as a hometown hero and what a hero is to him: “Can’t claim not one of these lil’ niggas, please, they look at me like their hero / Can’t take my spot for that, talk my shit I’m alive for that / If I take shots you’ll see no missed shells (Michelle’s), call Barack for that / You lil’ ass boys keeps drawing outta line, we brought more chalk for that / They claim big dog but I’m seeing feline is how they often act.” What’s impressive to me is Doms’ ability to convey his message in a short span of time (and as with every one of his verses, causing me to run it back to catch lines that went over my head).
“HEROES” comes on the heels of Borilin’s quick collaborative effort with CMRNPRKR (WHILE YOU WAIT – EP), and a new single “MAGNET”. Al-Doms has kept his catalog growing this year with an offering of album level tracks titled DON’T CALL THIS LUCK, THAT’S DISRESPECTFUL, as well as an outstanding “On The Radar” Freestyle.
The photos used by both artists suggest that there’s additional visuals coming for this record. Let’s buckle up and stay ready, then.