Rapper Bas has collaborated with neo soul duo The Hics for the collaborative album Melanchronica. It is a wonderful laidback project which encompasses sounds of jazz, electronic and indie with a hip hop approach. The Hics lead vocalist, Roxane Barker, provides much of the hooks on the album which allows Bas to settle in throughout the verses. The Hics and Bas have a connection going back to at least the rapper’s sophomore project, Too High to Riot (2016), when they collaborated on the tracks “Ricochet” and “Matches”. Nine years later and their cohesion extends across a 10-track project which sounds marvellous. It is Bas’ first studio album without an appearance by his record label head J. Cole; instead, Ab-Soul, Domani and Saba turn in guest features. Melanchronica – a portmanteau of chronic melancholy – is an exploration of the modern human condition and is equally tender as it is introspective.

Melanchronica
Bas and The Hics
Featuring: Ab-Soul, Domani, Saba
Production: Cedric Brown, Click’n’Press, Galimatias, Ron Gilmore, Guy Furious, The Hics, Kel-P, KQuick, Kurzweil, Meez, Sensei Bueno, SoundWavVe, Alex Tapia, Tec Beatz
Singles: “Erewhon” featuring Saba, “Everyday Ppl”, “Norbit” featuring Ab-Soul