Edge & Babi
“Endless Summer 2” - an EP review
“Endless Summer 2” is the follow up to this NY duo’s 2020 release of the same name. Between the two of them, there’s over 20 released tracks that span the genres of hip hop, rap with hints of Caribbean R&B. The six songs on this project are very well produced with great hooks and great delivery. Here’s our track by track breakdown.
3 Seconds - Love the way this track opens with the guitar riffs, and a chord progression I didn’t expect. Vocals are really strong - beautiful summer vibe is established right away, and the production to all the leads, harmonies and BG’s are really smart. Love the lyrics in the chorus. Lots of lines that could be repeated in masse by a crowd, this is definitely a crowd pleasing jam. From references to Jimmy Nutron, Jane, asking someone to take your keys so you can be responsible and the flow of the hook, you can tell these guys spend a lot of time getting the lyrics right. Another aspect I really appreciate is how they separate the chorus from the verse in terms of mix, production and structure. Clever track!
If You Wit It - Change in direction from the first track - more straight ahead hip hop with a clever sax sounding riff. Production is straightforward and simple, it doesn’t need more because obviously the focus is on the lyrics and delivery. Clever use of a camera sound and fighter bell rings, on time, with delay. The BG’s in the chorus have some elements of Gregorian chant - very cool. Really dig the juxtaposition of the chorus delivery versus the verse delivery. Once again, you can tell they pay a lot of attention to lyrics and flow.
Sorry - Subtle Caribbean vibe on this track from the start. The first verse kicks in and it’s more melodic than you thought it would be. Serious Odom Jr. vibes on the vocal delivery. Really love the mix and production, they do a great job panning vocals around and bringing in some non-traditional sounds. The parts and delivery throughout the entire song are just enough. They could have easily added more, but it doesn’t need it. That’s smart production - let the song do the work. If anything, I would have loved for this one to keep going - great feels.
Intoxicated - The first thing that hits me when I listen to this is how different it sounds from the other tracks - and I like that. They’re obviously not afraid to throw a host of sounds and vibes at the listener, and their delivery is confident. You can tell what the song is about by the title - and it fades out like a strong buzz after a heavy night.
Can’t Stay - Nice guitar riff to open the song, with a different vibe than the previous tracks. Dig the pronunciation of the first verse - nice way to tuck the melody in the lower register with the guitar on top. Chorus brings about a nice change - doesn’t take off too harsh - it’s a subtle step up from the verse. Second verse takes on a little more attack in the vibe and delivery. There’s great interplay between Edge & Babi in how they present their verses - a nice contrast that has been displayed throughout the entire project so far. There’s something about the chorus in this track that we love more than the others - they’re all good, but this one stands out.
Do it Again - Nice jazzy R&B chord set up, and when the beat drops in it’s solid party. There’s great juxtaposition between the chord voicings, the rap, and modern sounds in the background that pan around your ears. Once again, very clever lyrics (I can definitely relate to having a time in my life that directly reflects this). There’s a line in the 2nd verse about Saturday that made me laugh out loud. Once you figure out what this song is about - you’ll love it. This is an anthem to what they’re talking about (I won’t give it away, go listen!). This should be pitched for sync - it’s soundtrack material.
The highlights of this project for me are how well the parts of each song are constructed and produced, how well the lyrics fit in every section, and the contract in delivery between Edge & Babi. They’ve done a solid job of hitting several genres within hip hop and rap, but, they don’t brag in doing so - there’s nothing overstated or pretentious in this project. There’s a lot of talent in this duo and they know how to write a clever track. We hope they keep it up, we look forward to what they’ll be doing next.