With hip hop firmly entrenched within pop music, artists tend to chase a sound in search of mainstream validation. However, every so often, a sound usually existing within its own niche crowd, that captures ears for its inventiveness. In making Valeedation, the duo of Valee and Staten Island native MVW have created their magnum opus (for now) and firmly established their sound within hip hop’s redundant landscape.
Background to Valeedation
Prior to this 2023 release, MVW’s hip hop journey began with two Valee assisted albums released in consecutive years. Despite its fresh perspective, MVW’s prior albums included their share of Hills and Valleys, while maintaining a sense of novelty. While Valee has long-established a niche audience in hip hop for his slick-talking, luxurious idioms, he lacked a go-to producer to consistently bring the best out of him. Correspondingly, as the classically trained MVW cast a wide net for artists to feature, he would not find a better match for his minimalist style than Valee. In essence, Valeedation is a continuance of the unique language that they’ve developed through their shared artistic vision.
Valeedation Review
After all, cultivating and establishing a style of production is no easy task. Namely, MVW’s prior efforts maintained an ebb-and-flow between minimalist instrumentation and raging vocals. While this kept the listener on edge, to did very little for the albums sequencing. Conversely, on Valeedation, it all comes together as MVW along with Valee bring about his most cohesive effort yet.
Introduced to the world with the release of singles “Pistachio” and “Tailor Swift,” MVW juxtaposes Valee’s nonchalant delivery with meticulous instrumentation blending into a sound coined as “museum rap.” In light, setting the tone for the album’s easy-going feel.
Throughout Valeedation, Valee’s usual off-beat, luxurious discourse finds refinement, resulting in extremely digestible-yet-unique songs. For instance, Valee’s concentrated flows and rhymes carries is a tone setter for much of the album. Meanwhile, MVW is meticulous with his isntrument placement, with violins and pianos taking turns in rhythmic dominance. Moreover, records like “Yo Yo,” “Ain’t Exotic,” “Metro PCS” “Shrimp Fried Rice,” — and standout track “Liquid”– leave the Valeedation with a lasting feel-good identity. Thus, even when MVW and Valee deviate rhythmically on songs like “Tailor Swift,” it is only a quick detour before returning to its sonic seance. Together with a host of agreeable features — including standout showings from Tony Shhnow (“Yo Yo”) and Zeelopers (“Metro PCS”) — Valeedation stands as diverse musical oasis.
