"Culmination" by Tranzformer & Big O featuring L.O.U., P-Rawb, and Decksterror is a poignant reminder of why old-school East Coast rap sounds so great. Built on vintage boom bap and imbued with mindful lyricism, this song is here to shift the mood.
Riding on the back of Big O's soulful, sample-heavy production, "Culmination" balances on the tightrope between reflective and now. The beat is grungy yet well-arranged, a canvas that's rough yet polished. It's hard to believe that something as soft and textured as country music with folk musings can explode from your speakers with such silky dynamism. His extensive knowledge as a travelling producer and audio engineer, currently settled in London, informs his craftsmanship of classic textures matched with mechanical precision.
Tranzformer laces the track excellently and makes himself known in the process, clearly keeping with the lyrical showcase identity at hand. With the grimy precision of Queens emcee L.O.U., the confidence of P-Rawb, and the flavor cuts of Decksterror, this is going to be hip-hop the way it was intended to be thoughtful, technical, and soul-bearing. Decksterror's scratches add another level of rawness, making it sound like an homage to '90s cipher culture. Every bar feels deliberate, and every sample, strategic. There's heaviness in the storytelling, wisdom in the flow, and cohesion in the collaboration.
"Culmination" is a celebration of lyricism and vinyl textures, of golden-age grit, but it never sounds mired in the past. For lovers of conscious East Coast hip-hop, this is a gem and should be put on repeat. Here, the Big O, Tranzformer, L.O.U., P-Rawb, and Decksterror school the masses on keeping it real. "Culmination" serves as a reminder that, as the sound evolves, the soul of hip-hop remains forever.
Reviewed by LyricalOdyssey Music
on
July 22, 2025
Rating:
No comments: