Muse-UAES Album Review

Saba once said there are two Chicagos, in the musical sense but as a civilization overall. With that being said, many individuals still get this concept confused a lot. It’s only because to understand the beauty of how diverse and multilayered our city is, you have to be in the trenches to experience the growth that takes place in community every day. This includes so many things and experiences but even more importantly the music that is born from here, and the culture surrounding it. Even before the blog era this has always been true about Chicago, and folks that go out of their way to understand this wisdom always become one of the pioneers changing how the future of this cities music industry is operated. One of the individuals that has always respected this and structures their art from it is the legendary Mikahl Anthony..

Mikahl Anthony is in every sense of the word a renaissance man that lives in the future of how art can be perceived. His passionate and upstanding character is how that same art can impact a creative space for years. If Chief Keef is the face of the drill sound that comes from Chicago, Mikahl is the face of the other Chicago Saba spoke about music wise, especially during the blog era. His works as an artist, producer, emcee, conductor and teacher has made him a legend not just in his hometown of St. Louis, but to anyone around the world that has been fortunate enough to share space with him. He’s an individual that changed how sound was being constructed and what was the quality standard of an artist coming from Chicago during the blog era that wasn’t Drill music.

Mikahl draws inspiration from renaissance eras that have taken place all over the world. His ability to fuse eclectic bars with surreal afro-futuristic visuals with sounds that are smooth is something to not take lightly. Being the creator of the legendary collective THEMpeople is just one of the powerful examples of how Mikahl is a reflection of the cousin relationship that Chicago and St. Louis has and continues to develop because of other magnificent creatives like Drea The Vibe Dealer and Smino to name a few. Artists such as Mick Jenkins, Kami, Joey Purp, Noname, Jean Deaux, Nico Segal and so many others can attest to the creative brilliance that comes from this artist.

To keep it all simple, Mikahl Anthony is a musical anomaly that is not to be played with. The OG’s and the new wave know of his presence because of his timeless community and curator efforts for the last 20 years in Chicago. When he drops your “favorite artist’s favorite artist” takes the time to listen. His sound is just that powerful..

His debut album “Muse” uplifts the many emotions that can weigh on you as you understand the idea of what a relationship is, and how that growth can transform you overall. Mikahl delivers a musical cinematic universe to the listener that shows the depths of his thoughts in the form of phenomenal vocals and bars. To say you can take a ride on lakeshore drive to his music is an understatement. Mikahl really makes music for the deep thinker that wants to take a smoke break before getting back to work. This album in our opinion is proof of that..

Records like “Candyman” and “ButtaFlies & Brownies” hit hard on the frustrating but honest emotions that Mikahl but really anyone has processed from past relationships that maybe didn’t end the way we wanted..

While records like “Over The Phone”, “Sooth Sayings”, “SUPAnatural”,“Brick That Broke The Window”,& “MollyAmory”, get into the many worlds that can be created while creating special moments with that special someone that no one else would understand unless you’ve been in love..

But records like “Vintage Collection”, & “Deep Ain’t It” come across as theme songs for the revolutionary that’s healing on themselves..

Our favorite records to play in the office are “Over The Phone”, “Deep Ain’t It”, “Vintage Collection”, “Candyman”, and “Sooth Sayings”..

Please take a listen to this magnificent album and also take a look at the music video release for “La Flare” as well and let us know what you think..