My only complaint about ‘Birds & Bullets’ is its brevity. Courtesy of Minnesota-based rapper Hollow Profit, who teams up with the legendary Ben Beal, ‘Birds & Bullets’ is an old-school hip-hop classic that wouldn’t be out of place on a mixtape paying homage to the genre’s roots.
With a boom-bap beat, intricate rhyme schemes, and sharp, cutting bars, the track is also infused with a smokey jazz sample that gives it a vintage charm and a smooth edge. All in all, it’s a brief yet unforgettable little tune.
As track number seven on Hollow Profit’s latest album ‘CUIBONO?’, ‘Birds & Bullets’ is actually a play on Ben Beal’s 2020 release ‘Birds Aren’t Real’. It’s a clever bridge between the two artist’s musical journeys, inviting listeners to explore both further.
Hollow Profit cites influences like Kendrick Lamar, Wu-Tang Clan, and MF DOOM. Ben too, is a huge MF DOOM fan, and that mutual admiration undeniably seeps into their new offering. From the lo-fi aesthetic to the complex lyricism, ‘Birds & Bullets’ is truly a song that resonates with the essence of hip-hop’s golden era.
I’m off to explore ‘CUIBONO?’ in its entirety. I think Hollow Profit is onto something here!
Serious tune alert! Enjoy ‘Birds & Bullets’ on Spotify now:
