By Luke Modugno

There’s something intoxicatingly grim about Boldy James’ apathetic, lackadaisical delivery. The Detroit MC’s flat, monotone vocals have been helping him kick ill bars so smooth, a passive listener might gloss over the haunting tales about dead friends, drug trafficking and the mental trauma that comes with life in the underbelly of society. If anything has been a constant in Boldy’s relatively overlooked discography, it’s that he’s a master of utilizing minimalistic tones. Fittingly, for his latest LP, The Price of Tea in China, Boldy has once again linked up with raps most distinguished minimalist: The Alchemist.

From the moment they linked up on their 2019 effort Boldface, the partnership was clearly special. Almost favoring silence over noise, The Alchemist’s notoriously unique production fits Boldy’s laid-back style flawlessly. From the opening moments of the intro track “Carruth,” it’s apparent the pairs innate chemistry; a dusty piano sample accompanied by Boldy’s eerie lyrical output. “My friends came and went but most of them was murder victims/dead before 20 or caught a frame and had to serve a sentence/grew up in a hell hole, that’s why I think so twisted,” raps Boldy. The track sets the tone for the rest of the project, with both Boldy and The Alchemist sticking to their strong suits.

You know exactly what to expect from an Alchemist project and The Price of Tea in China is no different. The usual unbelievably nuanced production behind the table from The Alchemist and an impressive showing of intimacy and deep cuts from Boldy: the project is exactly as advertised.

The Price of Tea in China represents a complete evolution of Boldy James’ artistry and skillset as an MC. Usually rapping over hard hitting, unapologetic trap beats, production from The Alchemist couldn’t be more of a sonic foil to the production on the rest of his projects. But Boldy welcomes the challenge with open arms, as he kills each and every one of the beats cooked up for him on this project. From crafting a perfect flow on “Slow Roll,” to trading bars with BENNY THE BUTCHER on “Scrape the Bowl,” Boldy solidifies himself as one of the more talented rappers in the game right now. But Boldy didn’t stop there, as he outshines his other guests, Freddie Gibbs and Vince Staples on “S.N.O.R.T.” and “Surf & Turf.” The Price of Tea in China really feels like a coming out party for Boldy James thrown by The Alchemist, making the album feel like a victory lap for Boldy.

For The Alchemist, this album ranks amongst the best of his collaborative efforts. His crate-digging, ambiguous, sample-heavy production is at the top of its game on The Price of Tea in China. While the variety of the beats rarely changes, the project alternates between uptempo trunk rattlers (“Scrape The Bowl,” and “Slow Roll,”) and slow paced, lethargic, grimey deep cuts with “Carruth” and “Phone Bill.” The lack of sonic variety presents a sort of duality for the project. While The Alchemist perfectly establishes the main thematic elements of the album through his minimalistic style, he also limits the versatility of The Price of Tea in China cornering Boldy’s versatility as an MC by giving him similar beats. Half way through the album, the album begins to show itself as a one-trick-pony. An extremely engaging and compelling one-trick-pony, but one nonetheless.

Overall, The Price of Tea in China is a pleasant surprise for a project. From the outset, Boldy and The Alchemist were an unlikely pairing. But both of their collaborative efforts have been hits, and the pair seems to be only improving upon their newfound chemistry.

With Boldy James joining the Griselda crew, look for him to continue to make splashes in the underground rap scene.

Favorite Tracks

Carruth

Surf & Turf (Feat. Vince Staples)

Speed Demon Freestyle

Rating: 8

Listen to The Price of Tea in China here:

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