At 32 years old, ZelooperZ has already made quite a mark on the hip-hop scene, especially as a member of Detroit's Bruiser Brigade. This veteran has had a salty journey over the years, from his first solo stunner ‘Bothic’ to such artful masterpieces as ‘Valley of Life’ and ‘Van Gogh's Left Ear. Now he's back in the spotlight, in the midst of preparations for Bruiser Wolf's new adventure called ’Made by Dope,‘ produced by the one and only Harry Fraud. And if that wasn't enough, Danny Brown's blistering seventh album ’Stardust‘ will also be dropped next year. But first: Dilip and ZelooperZ join forces for ZelooperZ's twelfth LP.
The album kicks off with the track “1st Instrument,” in which ZelooperZ talks without beats but with a soulful chipmunk vibe about having pockets full of money and the spirited path he has taken. Then comes “Mona Lisa Left Eye,” an early favorite infused with references to his influences. “Bebe Kids” brings a funky synth sound and delves into the painful memories of his earlier years. Zack Fox lets his voice be heard on “Push Me Around,” where they shout in anger that no one should fuck with them.
“Hypnagogia” starts with an intriguing sample and switches effortlessly to an Arnold Schwarzenegger reference. While “NDA” featuring Paris Texas steals the show as the guest contribution of the album, making it clear they are serious. “Fuck Cigarettes” shares the unvarnished truth about his distaste for cigarettes, in which I wholeheartedly agree: weed above all else! Next come the soulful distracks focused on the “Broke Ass Hoes.”.
Halfway through the album, “Opposite Sex” throws heavy horns into the mix, and ZelooperZ talks about his battles with rest due to his busy schedule. In “Describe,” we get a more foggy trap vibe, where he tells us about being the best version of himself for his dream woman. “I Mac” plays with synthwave and drum & bass and stays in the theme of love, while “Shrooms” describes the trip of using magic mushrooms.
“Take Me I'm Drugs” kicks off the final section with strings and further explores drug use themes, then “Lebanon James” has us laughing with tales of acting crazier than Eric André himself. “Art of Seduction” finds a smoother way to perfect seduction, and the album closes with “Play with Your Pride,” a warning to keep your self-confidence intact.
With the upcoming performance at the 11th Camp Flog Gnaw, ‘Dali Ain't Dead’ highlights ZelooperZ's life since he got sober last year. Dilip's productions have grown phenomenally over the past five years, combining experimental hip-hop, cloud rap and more without drums, which fits perfectly with ZelooperZ's abstract lyrics. This man has no doubt earned his salty place in the scene, and we can't wait to see what else he has in store for us.
Our score? An unsalted 9/10!
#hhz #houhet salt #hiphop #zelooperz #detroit #daliAintDead
