With trapwave creeping into the U.K. mainstream (via his own material and that of contemporaries like
D-Block Europe), London musician
M Huncho saw a significant surge in popularity in 2019. Though it was singles like "Broken Homes" that earned
Huncho an international platform, it was his debut album,
Utopia, that got listeners' attention. The project, released in February, became something of a defining statement for the subgenre, exemplifying the wavy crooning and highly textured instrumentals that made its sonics so intoxicating. Expectations for a sophomore release were high. Teased with the excellent "Leader of the Tribe" freestyle and previewed by the
Nafe Smallz-assisted "Thumb,"
Huncho's second set was soon released, landing in January 2020 ahead of the rapper's upcoming U.K. tour.
The first thing that's apparent listening to
Huncholini the 1st is that it's a fundamentally different beast than
Utopia. While the rapper's debut set a cohesive mood through its spacey aesthetic,
Huncholini presents itself as more of a grab bag, merging traditional trapwave with some explorations into melodic trap. At its best, this shift opens some interesting avenues for
Huncho to explore. The three-part "Eagles," a sequel to 2019's "Birds," proves perhaps the most compelling tune here, with an explosive beat switch at the hands of Quincytellem that swerves far from his usual waviness-driven material, yet
Huncho adapts neatly, melding his exploratory lyricism with a more aggressive delivery. A positive inverse can be said of the
Headie One collaboration "Head Huncho." Rather than try to force a drill-led track to suit his collaborator,
Huncho finds a middle ground between the two styles, resulting in a gloomy, vibe-driven duet that truly excels.
However, it is with pure trapwave that the rapper has his best moments: "Blow Off My Cover" and "Indulge" are
Huncho at his best, stringing introspection and braggadocio into an infectious thread that neatly finds its home among spaced-out pads and bashful guitars. Similar highlights appear throughout, with the aforementioned "Eagles," the trap-driven "Dishonourable," and the gem "Wait 'Til I Finish" offering refreshing takes on
Huncho's formula so far. Landing far from the spaced-out excellence of
Utopia, the rapper's second project feels more like a play list than an album, littered with promising explorations ("Eagles") and trapwave gems ("Blow Off My Cover") that are sure to please the rapper's ever-growing fan base. ~ David Crone