ME8IGHTY & KING SWAVAY- “THE OUTSIDERS- EP” Review

Flint was one of the first places in Michigan to get put on the map when it came to the hip hop scene thanks to MC Breed.  Then Detroit followed along a little bit later thanks to Esham (Eminem made it a national hotspot, but Esham gave it a little shine prior to him).  But the city that has bred some of the most decorated athletes the state has to offer from Jason Richardson to Charles Rogers, Lamar Woodley, Cliff Ryan, Draymond Green, and others, Saginaw, has yet to make it’s mark on the map.  So much talent that has graced the city (Skeem, Phe McWright, Dub, Alaphabetics, Cap C, and the list goes on), but has yet to gain that same national spotlight that Flint and Detroit have held at points in time.

   That all should change as this generation of artists from Saginaw have come along and put their stamp on the map.  Two of those artists are King Swavay and ME8ighty.  Technically, these two have been making music AND videos for a number of years and have even had a viral hit at one point called “Back Pockets.” But this year looks to be the start of what I would like to call their “Playoff run” with their first release in quite some time with the EP titled “The Outsiders.” Six tracks that showcase their skill, range, and cohesiveness.  One of the things I loved about this EP is that it feels like a sampler.  And what I mean by that is, if you want a speaker knocking and head bobbing song that means business, the opening track “Energy” provides just that as 8ighty and Swavay go bar for bar letting you know that they are here to make their mark and they are not playing. Then you have them taking it down a notch to let the ladies know that there is plenty in the bag for them as well with the smooth vibe of “Keep Glowing”.  As much as they gel extremely well together as a unit, they also hold their own very well as solo artists which is also showcased on this EP. 8ighty on his standout “My Way” and Swavay on his standout track “Earn That 40” before they wrap it up with a reminder that they’ll still split you in half with their bars on “Right Now”.  Their cadence and delivery (though always solid in the past) have shown a lot of growth over their time away, but they still sound like two emcees having fun on the mic which you can hear in their flow. Whether these two breakthrough and make it mainstream performing in front of millions or stay grounded performing in a school gym in front of three people, they will still remain true to themselves and rap their hearts out because that’s the love they have for this music thing and a testament to their authenticity.  They said they have more heat coming soon so I’m looking forward to what they have in store next.  It’s about to be a hot Summer.