released: august 15, 2025

genre: hip-hop

from: new york, usa

label: backwoodz studioz

a few thoughts: it’s fitting that an album titled “spell” in french is entirely produced by preservation. to me, he’s one of the best working today, creating claustrophobic, percussion-heavy beats that create this dark, unsettling yet soulful energy. having produced for the likes of billy woods, mach-hommy, roc marciano and ka, to name a few, his name is synonymous with greatness. gabe ‘nandez, on the other hand, is one of the most exciting up and coming rappers coming out of the east coast at the moment. together, they have released a stellar album titled sortilège, an intricate body of work that brings mystical sounds and concepts together, making it poignant and powerful listen from start to finish. the driving groove of “shadowstep” is incredible, as gabe’s sharp conscious and societal observations, as well as braggadocios lyrics make for an impactful listen. the string sample on “muay sok” is incredible, while gabe flow is perfect on this track, rapping effortlessly shit like “what i meant to say is war is more a state of mind / than an act of violence and through piousness remain divine/ random acts of kindness, see through blindness, people, places, time / speak through rhyming, n**** shaman speak his base combine”. the level of detail in his lyrics make him such an interesting writer and poet, with so much to digest. “bascinet” is crazy too, especially with that beat switch. gabe’s literal description of life in the streets where he grew up has a chilling feeling to it, perfectly capturing the dystopian energy both artists create throughout this album. “war” featuring billy woods is another striking moment on the album. “the genocide will be televised ’til it’s normalized / the quota rised, immortalized in the oil price / that’s just the way it goes” ‘nandez raps matter-of-factly on this, which makes for a powerful moment on the album. the groovy and soulful cut “ball & chain” is a highlight. “mondo cane” featuring armand hammer and benjamin booker is another powerful moment on the album, with a dreamy beat, as well as somber and reflective lyrics that capture this feeling of angst yet hopelessness. “kurtz” is a dark and unsettling track, while “lotus flower” closes the album out triumphantly with a moody yet reflective cut that sees ‘nandez contemplate over his journey, while commenting on the dog-eat-dog world we live in. it’s a fitting way to close out an unsettling yet poignant album, and showcases preservation’s talents as a producer, as well as gabe ‘nandez’s incredible skills on the mic. sortilège is of my favourite hip-hop projects to come out this year for sure.

the album: