Stars & Bags

Ngoga/Stars & Bags/HandMadeRecords

Ngoga (real name Frank Ngoga) is putting Phoenix on the map with his EP, Stars & Bags. A dope union of hard-hitting tracks and eclectic instrumentation with a very melodic style that is enhanced with each vocal overlay - together, this EP had me nodding my heads from start to finish. What separates Ngoga from other trap artists is his lyrical content. He is not content to follow the normal trap rap formula of beat-heavy songs with simple words and phrases repeated, coupled with short, often inaudible and nonsensical verses while the song itself focuses more on the chorus and hooks - Ngoga is actually talking about something; something relatable and his syllables are easily understood! So here's to the first Christian trap artist to call Phoenix home (as far as I know)! Reviewed by Daniel of LJH. Favorite Tracks: 1,4 No FCCs.

Tracks:
**1) 2:35 - Slow tempo. Electric piano (creating an almost-xylophone timbre, modified with post-prod effects), joined by heavily truncated and modified drum kit, and a bass guitar modified with a great deal of reverb carries the melody, while voiceovers are used almost as another, separate instrument, positioned deep in the back of the mix.
*2) 2:32 - Slow/med tempo. The opening takes an ordinary acoustic or electric guitar and makes it sound like there is a horn behind it and maybe 15 guitars playing in perfect unison. These guitars, sometimes joined in harmony with other horn-sounding guitars quickly shift into a bass-guitar carried song kept in check by a heavier emphasis on the kick of the drums and the snares. Finally, as the instruments enter and leave one can actually discern a brass in there, but it's also modified heavily to sound much different than it should and its used as a layer in the mix.
*3) 1:28 - Med tempo. Bass guitar, horns, violin, drums carry this funky, albeit short song.
**4) 2:18 - Slow tempo. Piano, woodwind, and a lot of post-prod effects used as instruments; heavily modulated drums (kicks and snares)... and then the bass guitar hits, overlaying what sounds like an 808 kick.
*5) 0:41 - INTERLUDE. Slow tempo. Funky - piano, layered with a violin and bass guitar.
*6) 2:48 - Med tempo. Bass guitar, modulated piano, drums, layered with an instrument played in staccato (the drums are played with a lot in this song), electric guitar.