Have you ever listened to a rap song and even before you could make out its lyrics you fell completely in love with just the feel of it? Like for the first couple listens you don’t even bother worrying about what the rapper is actually saying because you are so overtaken by the raw, visceral emotion of it all. Then when you do finally tell yourself, “hey maybe this time I should try and render what he/she is saying”, you unearth a whole new side to the song and fall in love with it all over again.

That process just happened to us with the new collaboration EP between Oakland-based rappers Mondre and Squadda aka Main Attrakionz and production crew Friendzone. At first listen, it was the general emotion of “Perfect Skies” and “Chuch” that drew us in. Pure conscious-driven, positive-sounding raps layered perfectly between a cloud of blissed-out synths, airy harp plucks, and ambient piano melodies. Rather than analyzing its content, Mondre and Squadda’s sedated, chilled-out flows were pretty to just listen to–drifting in and out of straight up raps to kinda-not-really-singing with ease, reminding us a lot of Bone Thugs & Harmony. Getting lost in Friendzone’s productions wasn’t a hard task either, as each instrumental is so enticing that we almost forgot we were listening to a rap song all together. Needless to say, it took at least five or so listens before each song’s actual lyrics resonated. But when they did, they did in a big big way.

Each of the two tracks on the Perfect Skies EP feature Mondre and Squadda rapping about things you’d likely suspect two 20-year-old kids to rap about. Lyrics are based around the struggle, passion, and grind it takes to one day make it big. It’s a theme many young up and coming rappers tend to stick to, but here it feels even more genuine. Their rhymes are highly liberating and evoke a hustler’s sprit sort of vibe that anyone who has ever struggled for something in their lives–regardless of upbringing and societal standing–can relate to.

These two songs are for those times when everything just feels right. Throw these on while cruising around on a beautiful day with the windows rolled all the way down and the stereo turned all the way up and try not to feel empowered. This my friends, is what we like to call musical confidence. Get yourself inspired…

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Main Attrakionz- Perfect Skies (Produced By Friendzone)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Main Attrakionz- Chuch (Produced By Friendzone)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Friendzone- Chuch Instrumental