Organic Jazz Rap at Its Finest

I first discovered Marlon Craft roughly 10 years ago through his YouTube freestyles. Even then, you could hear the passion and creativity in his lyricism. A true student of hip-hop, he seamlessly blends classic East Coast delivery with deeply relevant and introspective subject matter.

As a longtime supporter, I’ve been putting people on to the art of the Hell’s Kitchen native ever since I became familiar with his music. Those of us who truly breathe hip-hop have known about Marlon’s raw talent and musicality for years. However, the masses were finally forced to take notice after he absolutely bodied the On The Radar “Raps New Class” Cypher.

Riding that momentum, Marlon released The Internet Killed the Neighborhood—a jazzy concept project that dives into society’s constant digital distractions, the erosion of neighborhood bonds and human connections, mental health, and the tension between progress and isolation.

I often say there’s a difference between rapping and rhyming. Marlon is one of those rare true lyricists who always has something of value to say—and he makes dope music while doing it.

The jazz influence is nothing new in Craft’s repertoire; we’ve heard the heavy, live instrumentation in much of his prior work. So before anyone ignorantly tries to lump him in with far less talented artists in that lane, know that this sound is completely organic and authentic to him.

The production on this project is top-notch. It features an impressive array of composers and producers, including Sly5thAve, Dan Edinberg, Kevin Theodore, and the legend Havoc of Mobb Deep. One standout track, “Analog Man,” flips Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” into something haunting and cinematic, providing the perfect backdrop for Marlon’s lyrics and subject matter.

The track “If I Loved Me” delivers a chaotic jazz composition that feeds directly into Marlon’s introspective lyrics. Lines like “How I’m supposed to stay on beat without a heart?” capture the back-and-forth mental struggle we all face while navigating the labyrinth of life. The hectic jazz serves as the sonic equivalent of our racing thoughts. I’m not sure if that was his exact intention, but that’s how I digested it—and in my opinion, it was a genius touch.

Selfishly, as a longtime supporter, I was hoping to hear Marlon talk that ish—like we heard during the On The Radar Cypher. When it comes to raw rapper bravado, Craft is one of the coldest MCs in the game. That said, because this is a concept album, I’m not disappointed in the slightest. I’m simply happy that so many new ears have now been introduced to Hell’s Kitchen’s own.

Standout Tracks: Unapologetic, The Neighborhood, Most Days, Analog Man

Album Score: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑(9/10)