Death Grips - Exmilitary

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, we are reviewing the debut mixtape of experimental hip hop group, Death Grips, Exmilitary. First of all, Exmilitary is a Sacramento-based experimental hip hop trio, featuring MC Ride on vocals and lyrics, Zach Hill on drums and Andy Morin on synths and production. They popped onto the underground scene with this very mixtape. So let's hear what it has to offer...

We open on Beware, as an interview of Charles Manson plays over a groovy bassline. THEN SUDDENLY... You are bombarded with loud synths and fuzzy guitars, as a man screams at you. MC Ride spits bars like no other man... because he screams them, and not like an emo trap metal Soundcloud song. He gives his all to scare you. The mixing is not good either, thus creating a sound distinct to this group.

Next we have one of the most popular songs from Death Grips, Guillotine. With little to no melodies, just a quiet bass and 808 drums. It has Ride's vocals in the forefront, screaming cryptic lyrics at you. But it's very repetitive, and doesn't go anywhere either.

Spread Eagle Cross The Block contrasts the previous song, as it opens with Ride screaming the songs title, with a lot of delay. A guitar sample plays throughout the track, as Ride screams more cryptic lyrics. One of my favourite songs from the band.

Lord Of The Game is actually pretty annoying. The vocal chop melodies stick to my brain, and the vocals from Mexican Girl are really annoying.

Then we have Takyon, which depending on the day of the week, is my favourite song from the band. The raw aggression, the glitchy drums, the squelchy bass, they all sound amazing.

Then we meet a short instrumental interlude, with Cut Throat. Not much to note here, but it's bad at all, especially the ear scratching distortion on some sections on here.

Klink has a repeating sample of MC Ride screaming notes in a 1-2 fashion. The dirty guitar, the glitchy, dry-sounding drums, truly somethin different.

On Culture Shock, we find MC Ride rapping in a normal voice, which in my opinion is creepier and more intimidating than him screaming. Glitchy bassline and dirty drums sounds also find their place here.

Another short interlude, 5D is another instrumental, but not that abrasive.

Thru The Walls is a surprisingly groovy song, mainly thanks to the "Latin" sounding beat. But apart from that, it's rather annoying.

Known For It has a surprisingly slow beat. Rather forgettable though.

I Want It I Need It is a mediocre song, with a pretty unremarkable rock sample and bland sounding beat.

Finally, we end the mixtape on a higher note with Blood Creepin with heavy vocals, distorted basslines and a faster beat.

Overall, the band's rawest and most unpolished release, but that's what gives it it's charm, and whilst a lot of the deeper cuts aren't very good, this mixtape holds some of the band's best songs ever.

Favourite tracks: Beware, Spread Eagle Cross The Block, Takyon, Cut Throat, Klink, Culture Shock, Blood Creepin;

Score: 8/10