After hearing just one song prior to this from The Magnum Font, one thing is for certain, his voice and lyrical style have a doubtless level of character and are instantly familiar once you’ve listened. ‘Wordsmith 2.0’ feels like much more of a complete work, the expression follows a certain rhythm and concept for the most part, though the violent references seem creatively arbitrary for the most part. The track has structure though, the beat has a thickness and drama that creates the right kind of atmosphere for the artist to express himself within. There’s a hook section, a definite moment of breakaway from the norm, the distorted guitar part adds a welcome dynamic, the same goes for the distant chords that can be heard on occasion.
Some of the lines come through with a distinct level of humour, which makes it much more interesting to listen to. Mainly the idea of ‘people said I’d never make it’, which, in common hip-hop, is usually followed by something along the lines of ‘I proved you wrong, who’s laughing now’ etc. In this case, The Magnum Font declares that he still ain’t shit, but that maybe the stars are starting to align. The honesty is commendable, and from this point onwards the rest of the lyrics are received in a slightly different way. It’s important to tell your story, not someone else’s – the truth will always hold the most power.
As mentioned previously, the artist’s voice, his accent, his tone, his performance style, all have something distinctly unique. From here on in it’s simply a matter of crafting musical tracks that hit with impact, that offer truth but also something a little more accessible such as a hook or a riff or a moment of repetition. This track leans in the right direction.
By Rebecca Cullen
Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing
