PTA has come to be known for producing quality music when it comes to RnB and soft trap-influenced Hip Hop. While their production is of note, a lot of their artists are also to be reckoned with on the mic. One such artist is Die Mondez, who recently released his solo work titled In The Trap.
Die Mondez is no newcomer to the South African Hip Hop scene. He is a young rapper from PTA who broke onto the scene in 2019 with two projects; an EP titled Die Dope and his debut album - Die Mondez Are Dope. He has been active ever since. He enjoys strong cosigns from Zoocci Coke Dope and FLVME, having released a full joint project together in 2020.
Die Mondez worked with various upcoming producers to get the right sound for this album. The result is a soft Trap sound which is complimented by a lot of singing on the hooks. The intro, Demons/Escape, gets you to pay attention just in case you came in with different expectations. It makes it clear that this is one of those content-rich projects where the rapper puts forth their rap skill while complimenting it with their ability to make/pick good music.
Die Mondez gets the sonics right. He sounds composed when he raps and does so with a certain cool factor to his finish. You can pick up some influence from Zoocci Coke Dope in the style of music. He kicks some good philosophies that point to his thought process and skill in putting that down in writing.
Mozel Tov is one of the strongest entries on the project. It’s a display of skill in both writing and delivery. More cool talk and flossing on the raps. The flow is a deep-breath type of flow that may be difficult to pull off at performances or even sing along to. Mondez definitely enjoys rapping. He doesn't use the trap style to go minimal on lines. While some lines may be quotables, others are reflective of being able to conjure up interesting concepts and staying on topic.
He carries himself with the confidence of a rapper that knows he's good. He goes beyond just saying he's good with it, but actually goes to show on each entry on the EP. Which is how it should be; when a rapper says they’re nice, you go deaf to it and let the work speak. The content doesn’t reveal much about the rapper beyond boasting about nonchalance, being the trap and being good at what he does.
While the raps are good on this project with lines that prove Die Mondez’s own ability, the project itself feels safe. Even the features are all from other trappers (Blxckie, Zooccie Coke Dope, FLVME, Direfox, BLFR). He couldn’t have gone wrong with that formula but it doesn’t do much to shake things up. Which is an important ingredient for leaving a lasting mark. Otherwise it’s great work in terms of writing and arrangement.
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