What are we listening to today? Well, how about The Reflecting Pool by Mike King?

If you never heard of Mike King before he's one of two emcees from a Philadelphia based group called Sela. Just recently his band mate Davd Little dropped an album called The Existential, great album from Davd Little. Well, we're here today to talk about Mike Kings new album not Sela as a collective group. I wish I could tell you guys, "This is an amazing album" and leave it at that. I really can't do that to you all; that really wouldn't be a thorough review. Please allow me to break Reflecting Pool down to you from my perspective. Mike Kings style, flow, and lyrical content are like a modern day old school style. Allow me to explain, his flow is similar on each song on Reflecting Pool but that's not a bad thing. He's telling a story with his flowing, relaxed word play like some of the greats: Slick Rick or Rakim. He tells each story on each track as the watcher/narrator. The production on Reflecting Pool has a hint of nineties' Hip-Hop. I feel a hint of nostalgia whenever I listen to certain songs on this album. Since we're talking about the production on Reflecting Pool; two words come to mind, clean and beautiful. For this to be an underground album the production is quite impressive and diverse. There are piano keys to heavy drum bass on some songs and that's very unique for an up and coming artist. The diverse usage of production on Reflecting Pool is quite astonishing. The production on this album really stands out from a lot of up and coming artists because his sound to me is the true essences of Hip-Hop. This is how Hip-Hop should sound! Mike King has found a way to pay homage to the great artists who has come before him but still modernizing the Hip-Hop sound of the late eighties and early nineties to a sound of his own. This is my favorite part of any review I do; the part where I share my favorite songs from the album. Honestly, every track on this album are great songs but there are a few songs that grab my ears, literally. Nina Simone is an insane track featuring Sela and production

by Margel Sophant, another member of Sela. Nina Simone features the unique but different style from DAVD and Mike but as a dope lyrical duo. Especially on Nina Simone as a group Sela reminds me of early Tribe Called Quest. Mike has a story teller style to his delivery and DAVD has an abstract style to his delivery. Gamers Corners sampling usage of Notorious B.I.G.s vocals from Juicy is so dope. I instantly felt in love with Gamer Corner because it took me back to the nineties with two things; listening to Biggie while I was playing my Super NES. See, moments like this on this album can bring back nostalgic feelings of my childhood. I know DAVD Little for his emceeing but Reflecting Pool introduced me to DAVD Little as a producer and I actually like his production style and sound. DAVD Littles production on a few tracks grabbed my ears especially Hood Rich part one and two. I love both songs because it feels more like a cipher of two cities. I find that so creative on Mike Kings behalf to feature rappers from both of his towns. One of my favorite lyrics uttered from Hood Rich part one is from DAVD Little, Caesar had more followers than Jesus. Dope-ness! Before I talk about my favorite track on Reflecting Pool, I would like to speak of one song that kind of bothered me, Smile. Smile is a good song but not for the flow of this album. The flow of this album was more Hip-Hop when as Smile is more Hip-Pop. I feel as if that song shouldnt have been last song. If was placed in the middle of the album I wouldnt have noticed how it stuck out like a sore thumb. Then again, Reflecting Pool is a somber at times cynical album, so Smile could have been the track that brings light to Reflecting Pool. If thats the case then I totally understand but I still stand by the fact that Smile shouldnt have been the last song of this album. The last song of this album should have been Say Goodnight. I knew I loved this song from the opening moment when The Wire was sample for the introduction to this song. This is such a beautiful song in a dark way. This song really is the original essences of Hip-Hop, informing the world of the plights of the African-American urban community. Every time I listen to this song I am truly astonish from the true stories within this song. This song is so beautiful it actually brought my eyes to watering; not because its a sad song, no. Mikes lyrical content told us the listener this everyday story that happens in the ghettos only to lead into an amazing poem from Mike OHara. Say Goodnight was already an amazing song but Mike OHaras sharp, lovely, and grim words made this album into an instant Hip-Hop classic to me. I do not know what more can I say about Reflecting Pool but a standing ovation! Great Hip-Hop album, I honestly could have done without Smile on this album but thats still a good song. Mike Kings lyrical story telling is easy to listen to, capable following mentally, and anybody can relate to emotionally. I love Mikes modern old school flow over astonishing production. Reflecting Pool was almost a masterpiece to my ears but Smile took it down a notch instead this album is truly sublime. One of the best Hip-Hop albums Ive heard in the last five years. I give Mike Kings Reflecting Pool a solid A for Astounding! P.S. I hate poetry but Mike OHares poem on Say Goodnight is one of the greatest pieces of poetry Ive heard in the last ten years. Is there anyway I could get a copy of it? I would

love to read it over and over. Think about it because that would be love. Okay, this is where my review ends.