Banco

Banco

With his Chicago rap duo The Cool Kids on a break, Sir Michael Rocks (a.k.a. Mikey Rocks) wrapped his highly anticipated solo full-length. A fluid, frequently psychedelic collection, Banco finds Rocks relishing the limelight, with production assists from DJ Mustard, fellow Windy City native Young Chop, and more. While “Memo” samples the accordion-crunching atmospherics of Daedelus’ “Experience” to rousing effect (like Madlib did for Madvillian’s 2004 opus Madvilliany), “Lost Boys” finds Rocks joining forces with Mac Miller and Trinidad James for a guitar-dusted, Little Richard–referencing splash that’s similarly elemental. Elsewhere, Banco’s production has a more aerodynamic feel as Rocks attacks the mic with both added ferocity and veteran calm, like on the Casey Veggies and Iamsu!-enriched standout “Bussin’” and the mesmeric “Ain’t Nothing Like,” which boasts guest turns from Too $hort and Rocks’ Cool Kids co-conspirator Chuck Inglish.

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