What can the new works by OG Keemo and Ufo361 do? Here you can check out both records.
The first week of January gets off to a rather quiet start when it comes to single releases. But things look different when it comes to albums: OG Keemo has released his third work called FIEBER and Ufo361 has released his mixtape SONY. We listened for you.
OG Keemo – FEVER
Two days before the two-year anniversary of his second album MAN BITE DOG, a rap masterpiece of puns and metaphors, OG Keemo releases his latest work FIEBER. Now the 31-year-old has once again had his regular producer and best friend, radio father Frank, do the instrumentals. But why change something that undoubtedly works? In terms of sound, OG Keemo once again delivers more soulful tracks as well as aggressive trap pieces, i.e. some auditory delicacies.
More about the record: FIEBER starts with a sample loop. A telephone ringing, a woman coughing and finally the word “fever” can be heard. Then comes the first track, “taschen” ft. Souly, which starts with an almost fairytale-like melody and claps away with an angry beat and rap style. In the song, OG Keemo explains that he fills his “pockets” with money and packages this in statements like: “I was in everything except in a protection program / My forefathers came from the motherland with a backpack / And their legacy smells like a mess Fuffi and puts on black hoodies”.
The rapper is once again eloquent on the album – but not in the way we’re used to from him. More like angry and pissed off. So it’s not super well thought out and conceptually organized like MAN BITES DOG. In terms of content, OG Keemo focuses more on the basics of the rap game: money, success and power. Nevertheless, tracks like “Bee Gees” provide accomplished punchlines and rap lyrics at the highest level.
OG Keemo delivers well-known quality and at the same time surprises with new feature partners. So not only Rin contributed a part, but also Shindy – a guest contribution that is quite unexpected because the musician previously had his regular feature people, just like his producer.
The title track also gives freestyle vibes and brings together what the album is supposed to underline: OG Keemo is back and gives us the finest, aggressive rap with brains. One drawback, however, is that the record doesn’t even last 38 minutes despite the 19 songs.
Ufo361 – SONY
Ufo361 announced his mixtape SONY back in September 2023 and has since regularly released singles that should give a foretaste of the work. With a total of nine songs presented, the thought arose as to whether Ufo361 might not already be providing the main part of the tracklist. But with 20 album tracks, fans now have some new things to hear.
But now back to the beginning: Ufo361 switched to Sony Music in 2023 together with his own label. The German rapper also celebrated this change directly with a mixtape, which he titled like the major label. This new chapter also requires a new Ufo361 and that’s exactly what he announces in the album opener “MOF”: “The old Ufo has died / I will never obey you, no”.
Anyone who celebrates Ufo361’s aggressive, lyrically repetitive rap style will not be disappointed with the record. Here and there the 35-year-old also allows other influences. “VNVKIN” has a rock undertone, while “biker_jacket/chromeheartscrosses” relies more on electronic beats. In addition to heavier trap bangers like “VIVIENNE WESTWOOD” with street rap music reminiscent of US hip hop, Ufo361 also sometimes provides autotune to underline the upspaced atmosphere.
Although there are only four guest contributions, he brought in international artists for this one, such as the two British rappers Lancey Fox and Destry Lonely, thereby gaining attention on a broader level. The mixtape is not only listed on release lists for German rap, but also on English-language rap publications.