McKinley Dixon’s fifth album, Magic, Alive! is a vivid, emotionally charged work that weaves jazz, Hip Hop, and soul into a dense, 35-minute tapestry. Following his acclaimed For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her (2021) and Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (2023), Dixon’s latest project centers on a group of kids grappling with a friend’s death, using magic as a metaphor for memory and survival. Across 11 tracks, Dixon delivers a sound that’s lush and layered, a mood that swings from grief to joy, and a structure that balances narrative depth with musical ambition. While not every experiment lands, the album’s vibrant energy and Dixon’s commanding presence make it a standout in contemporary Hip Hop.
The album opens with “Watch My Hands,” a gentle entry point driven by Eli Owens’ shimmering harp and soft percussion. Dixon’s voice is warm and relaxed, his flow conversational as he paints a neighborhood scene of kids on bikes under a summer sun. The track’s airy jazz tones set a reflective mood, grounding the album’s concept in a sense of community. “Sugar Water,” featuring Quelle Chris and Anjimile, builds on this with a triumphant blend of horns, uplifting keys, and a smooth bassline. Anjimile’s gospel-tinged harmonies soar, while Dixon and Quelle Chris trade verses with a conversational ease, their voices weaving through the track’s rich texture. At just over two minutes, it feels criminally short, leaving you craving more of its radiant energy.
“Crooked Stick,” with Ghais Guevara and Alfred., pushes into bolder territory. Jagged guitars and blaring horns create a near rap-metal intensity, teetering on chaos but held together by Dixon’s precise delivery and his guests’ fiery verses. The track’s raw edge feels like a street corner showdown, its distortion amplifying the urgency of survival. “Recitatif,” featuring Teller Bank$, shifts gears with a snare-and-cymbal rhythm that morphs into a menacing, distorted bassline halfway through. Dixon’s flow escalates from measured to explosive, while Teller Bank$’s pitch-shifted verse adds a gritty, almost industrial bite. The beat switch is thrilling, but the track’s experimental tone feels slightly out of sync with the album’s warmer moments.
“We’re Outside, Rejoice!” is a high point, bursting with life. Its peppy organ and hard-hitting drums pulse with a communal spirit, the hook’s chant—“WE OUTSIDE! REJOICE!”—evoking kids running through sunlit streets. Dixon’s verses are poetic yet grounded, capturing the fleeting joy of youth. The track’s vibrant energy carries into “Run, Run, Run Part II,” a sequel to a Beloved! standout. Here, piano, horns, and ride cymbals collide in a majestic medley, with Dixon’s rapid-fire flow weaving tales of freedom and defiance. The strings swell with cinematic weight, making it a heart-pounding anthem.
“All the Loved Ones (What Would We Do???)” leans into maternal love and loss, its soulful keys and muted drums creating a tender backdrop. Dixon’s storytelling is vivid, painting a kid sneaking out under a mother’s watchful eye, haunted by death’s shadow. The track’s warmth contrasts with its heavier themes, grounding the album’s emotional core. “F.F.O.L.” channels gun violence through a frantic, guitar-laced beat, with Dixon’s urgent delivery mirroring the chaos of dodging bullets. Teller Bank$’s verse adds intensity, though his vocal tone feels less polished here.
The final three tracks form a stunning climax. “Listen Gentle” is a symphony of Sam Koff’s trumpet, Gina Sobel’s flute, and thundering drums, with Dixon’s voice cutting through like a beacon. The track’s lush orchestration and gang vocals evoke a communal ritual, blending beauty and tragedy. “Magic, Alive!,” the title track, is a celebration of resilience, driven by Etienne Stoufflet’s rowdy saxophone and Brandi Wellman’s ghostly coos. Dixon’s verses are fierce, the beat’s groove infectious, making it a joyous peak. “Could’ve Been Different,” featuring Blu and Shamir, closes the album with a soulful ode to home. Shamir’s soaring harmonies and chugging strings wrap around Dixon and Blu’s reflective verses, their words painting a bittersweet farewell. The track’s warm, jazzy glow feels like a final embrace.
Dixon’s rapping is a highlight, his flow shifting effortlessly from laid-back to ferocious. His storytelling is sharp, weaving personal and communal threads without losing focus. The production, helmed by Dixon and a talented crew, is a marvel—live drums snap with precision, horns blare with urgency, and flutes and strings add layers of depth. Features like Quelle Chris, Blu, Pink Siifu, and Anjimile elevate the album, their voices blending seamlessly into Dixon’s vision, though Teller Bank$’s contributions occasionally feel less impactful.
Structurally, Magic, Alive! is cohesive yet ambitious, with its short runtime ensuring no moment feels wasted. The narrative of loss and memory ties the tracks together, though the concept sometimes takes a backseat to Dixon’s broader reflections. The album’s few missteps—“Recitatif”’s jarring shift and Teller Bank$’s uneven vocals—don’t detract from its overall power. Compared to Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?, it’s more experimental, with denser orchestration that risks clutter but often lands spectacularly.
Magic, Alive! is a testament to Dixon’s growth as a storyteller and sonic architect. Its vibrant, jazz-infused sound, heartfelt mood, and tight structure make it one of the year’s most compelling Hip Hop albums. While it may not outshine Beloved! for immediate accessibility or For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her for scope, its depth rewards repeated listens, solidifying Dixon as a vital voice in the genre.
8.5/10
Download: Magic, Alive!
Also read: The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2025
