released: may 7, 2025

genre: hip-hop

from: new york, usa

label: 10k

a few thoughts: mike has been one of the most innovative and boundary-pushing artists in years. he hasn’t released a dull album yet, all of his projects so far have brought new life into this world, through incredibly textured and detailed music that captures the thoughts, observations and vulnerabilities of a young artist in new york but frequently travelling and exploring the world around him. tony seltzer, on the other hand, has been making some of the most interesting and creative production in years, having collaborated previously with mike on pinball, as well as with frequent collaborator wiki on albums like 14k figaro. pinball ii is the highly anticipated follow up to their collaborative duo, and oh my god is this a special album. from the varied and atmospheric production, as well as the light ghetto house influence just from the energy and at times intensity of the beats, to mike’s effortless flows and intricate lyricism that at times blends in with the production, this album is incredible. ultimately, this projects flows so well from start to finish. the heavy, suffocating production on the opener “sin city” sets the tone for the rest of the album. the production is just so good throughout. the subtle melodies and synths throughout animate the album so beautifully, while mike paints the sonic canvas with vivid verses about his mental health, experiences while touring and going back home. “dolemite” featuring lunchbox is a light and colourful track, from the piano melodies to the emotive chorus. “#71” is fantastic too, with its fast-paced and emphatic synth leads, and it flows perfectly into “wyc4”, with an atmospheric and dreamlike beat that is just stunning, while mike raps “no, it ain’t a game, but you got / nah, I never learned to stakeboard, but I learned to grind / some of my niggas had to make more, so they turned to crime / when they told me I would stay poor, learned to rhyme / what you came for.” reminding us of his path to be an incredible writer. the emphatic beat and light melody on “golden dragon” is fantastic too. the whole album is full of gems. the g-funk influence on “money & power” is amazing. the vocal sample on “belt” and the groove of that track is so good too, while the light and r&b feeling on “angsty” makes this a more intimate listening experience. the funk of the bass on “dont force it” is crazy, while mike talks about being grounded amidst the attention. the slight eeriness on the beautiful “hell date” featuring sideshow’s fitting verse is just stunning, while the emphatic and bouncy “splat!” is so infectious. niontay is a perfect feature for the type of beat tony made on “shaq and kobe”, as they go back and forth effortlessly. the animated and playful melody on “amiri” is insanely good, as mike reflects on being on every list, because he’s a vip. “jumanji” featuring earl sweatshirt has one of my favourite beats, with a warped loop that sounds beautiful over the emphatic beat, while both emcees give stellar verses throughout about navigating life on their own terms. “chest painz” is an emotive and reflective way to close out the album, with a gentle beat and reflective final verse from mike, who again flows effortlessly and speaks with confidence and excitement on his continued life journey. he’s becoming greater and greater with every release, and tony seltzer has created one of the best soundscapes for it. pinball ii is an excellent body of work showcasing the talents of two artists at the height of their creativity. and that height will likely continue for years and years to come. thank you both. thank you all the 10k soldiers too.

the album: