ELUCID’s REVELATOR is a bold statement from the New York emcee, elevating his already impressive discography into uncharted territory. Known for his work with the duo Armand Hammer alongside billy woods, this album sees ELUCID stepping confidently into his own artistic vision. After a strong solo debut with Save Yourself (2016) and the introspective follow-up I Told Bessie (2022) this latest effort places him on a new level of artistry, on par with the best of Armand Hammer and even billy woods’ most lauded solo work.
From the outset, REVELATOR hooks you with its raw and industrial sound, setting a tone of unpredictability. “The World is Dog” opens the album with glitchy textures, heavy with layers of sound that shift like tectonic plates. The production, driven by ELUCID himself with contributions from avant-garde talents like Jon Nellen, August Fanon, Child Actor, DJ Haram, and The Lasso, builds an atmosphere that’s disorienting but compelling. His voice, deep and commanding, cuts through the distorted electronics and eerie beats, providing a stark anchor in an otherwise chaotic soundscape.
Tracks like “CCTV,” featuring Creature, and “Slum of a Disregard” push the sonic boundaries further, marrying live instrumentation with electronic dissonance. The persistent drumbeats and deep basslines give these tracks a vitality that keeps the listener engaged, with ELUCID’s abstract lyricism drawing you into the depths of his observations about a world teetering on collapse. The themes of resistance, systemic decay, and societal breakdown are ever-present but never feel heavy-handed. Instead, they simmer under the surface, emerging in moments of sharp clarity, as in the potent “RFID” and the grim “Bad Pollen.”
REVELATOR‘s seamless integration of diverse sonic elements is top-notch. Avant-jazz, industrial noise, ambient drones, and glitch-heavy beats blend with live instrumentation, creating a dynamic that feels meticulously crafted but spontaneous at the same time. Tracks like “Instant Transfer” with billy woods and “Ikebana” highlight this, where the production shifts between sparse and suffocating, matching the lyrical intensity. There’s a tension in the music that mirrors the world ELUCID is speaking to, a reality marked by exploitation, conflict, and survival.
Lyrically, ELUCID is at his sharpest, wielding his deep, commanding voice like an instrument in itself, balancing the abstract and the personal. Thematically, he dives into issues of systemic oppression, political violence, and survival, offering fragmented reflections on identity, power, and the fragile state of the world. On “Bad Pollen,” for example, his bars paint a vivid picture of persistence and determination amid adversity, while billy woods’ verse adds layers of cynical resignation. Lines like “I squeeze my children’s hand and walk hard against the wind” capture ELUCID ’s ability to distill complex emotions into brief yet powerful imagery, creating moments of clarity within the album’s dense structure.
His wordplay, often dense and layered, never feels overwrought. Instead, there’s an economy to his writing that makes his statements hit harder. On “Ikebana,” he delivers lines like, “I make gorgeous babies but I’m done makin’ N-words,” evoking themes of legacy, identity, and the complexities of fatherhood in just a few words. Throughout REVELATOR, his lyrics oscillate between introspective reflections and sharp social critique, always with a sense of urgency.
The final stretch of the album offers some of its most powerful moments. “14.4” with Skech185 merges frantic drums and distorted basslines with meditations on race and power. “Xolo” and “Zigzagzig” close the album with haunting, industrial soundscapes that feel almost apocalyptic, leaving the listener in a space of reflection. DJ Haram’s production on “Zigzagzig” pushes ELUCID’s voice to the forefront, where he grapples with themes of resistance and international struggle, particularly his solidarity with Palestine.
REVELATOR is a fearless exploration of sound and meaning, where every track brings something unexpected, yet essential, to the table. The production is lush and experimental, often veering in new directions while maintaining cohesion. ELUCID’s ability to draw from a wide range of influences—from free jazz to noise to industrial Hip Hop—without losing his identity makes this album so impactful. It’s a record that feels both timely and timeless, reflecting the dissonance of the modern world while hinting at something greater beneath the surface.
In short, REVELATOR is not just a standout in ELUCID’s solo and group catalog—it’s a major statement in the history of underground Hip Hop.
9/10
Also read: The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2024
