released: january 27, 2025

genre: hip-hop

from: birmingham, alabama, usa

label: dynamite hill

a few thoughts: the expansive sonic world of pink siifu gets more and more interesting with each and every release. i’ve followed this dude since like 2013, and he’s been releasing gem after gem with each and every release. he’s never predictable either, which speaks volumes about his versatility as an artist. i literally don’t know what kinda sound he’s going for next. black’!antique is his newest body of work, a 19-track masterpiece that echoes the fierce, punk energy of his 2020 album negro, while simultaneously echoing the smooth and soulful cuts found on ensley and gumbo’!. always focused on community and collaboration, he brings a plethora of talented voices and producers to animate this album, and the results are some of the explosive, sudbued, soulful and most interesting compositions siifu has ever made. after the disorienting and cacophonous energy of the title track featuring elheist and apollo rome sets the tone for the album perfectly, with siifu rapping over some heavy drums and disorienting synths and effects that feel overpowering and overwhelming. the insane energy of tracks like “alive & direct’!” featuring elheist & ss.sylver, “sacrifice’bonappetit” featuring mother marygold, ho99o9 and b l a c k i e are both incredibly fierce and intense tracks featuring intense and harsh synths and basslines that scream throughout the tracks, adding a disorienting energy. siifu’s anger towards issues in his community are glaring and expressive throughout the album. “1:1[fkdup.bezel]” featuring conquest tony phillips, bbymutha and elheist has crazy, bouncy energy, with a southern trap sound that is incredibly infectious, as siifu speaks about wanting and deserving it all, while trying to distance himself from haters and inauthentic folks. the menacing yet animated cut “v12′!hml’!” featuring conquest tony phillips and liv.e is a thrilling and track, with rumbling basslines and a vocal loop that complements the playfulness of the track. the middle section of the album features some infectious southern trap sounding beats – “screw4life’! ripjalen’!” has a rumbling bass-heavy groove that sounds eerie, as siifu flows effortlessly over the beat, while “whouwithho+” with kal banx has a similar energy, with eerie, bass-heavy groove that hits throughout, while while “translation’!” featuring turich benjy, tyah and crystallmess is a soulful and atmospheric track. i wanna give turich benjy a shoutout, man. i got introduced to him via pink siifu – check out it’s too quiet…’! if you haven’t, and he’s been proving himself to be one of the most eclectic singers and emcees working today. his verse on “girls fall out tha sky” featuring 454 and jaas is exemplary of his talents. the hitech, peso gordon, gdmrw snd ss.sylver featuring “facecard’!”, with its ghettotech beat is another cool moment on the album, while tracks like “locked in’!” featuring wifigawd, “outside’!” featuring monte booker and v.c.r, “sleepatthewheel’!” featuring big rube and “last one alive’!” are all smooth and soulful cuts, with expressive keys, saxophone leads and incredibly emotive lyricism throughout all tracks, as pink siifu bares his heart out throughout, really capturing an intimacy in his music that feels raw and potent throughout. “8)” featuring jack davey, ss.sylver, aaliyah & azul is this immersive, atmospheric cut with vocals merging with the electronic soundscapes, a hypnotic track that makes way for the closer, “blackwater’!” featuring big rube has this eerie acoustic guitar rhythm, with big rube’s playful cool voice closing the album out, while the sonic landscape and sound effects throughout channels some gonjasufi-level spiritual type energy that is a perfect way to conclude this dynamic, disorienting and overwhelming new album. pink siifu has really exceeded all expectations with a bold and expansive new project that is as striking as anything he’s put out so far. it’s a consistent body of work and one that i will be listening to probably for years and years to come.

the album: