Drowning evokes a feeling of exasperated, muffled panic, a terrifying, all-encompassing, moment where you're pulled down beyond any means of human control. That shit is scary. And yet, it's what Mick Jenkins wants for his listener every time. The 24-year-old Chicago MC continues his rise up the conscious-rap hierarchy with his new EP, Wave[s]. The nine-track offering is a continuation of sorts from his last project, 2014's The Water[s], but this time around boasts more hearty, layered production and themes of love, reflection and transformation to fully submerge the listener.

Over the past two years, the Cinematic Music Group signee has groomed his young fanbase to decipher metaphors and prioritize higher thinking within his music. With a mix of drowsy and booming beats, Mick starts off strong on the first track, "Alchemy," and takes aim to set the record straight for wavering critics who haven't quite caught his frequency. "They say I be talking 'bout water too much/You hear that? Ha ha/That's how many fucks I could give/Still I got love for a hater, would give up a rib," he raps in his signature baritone. From the high of "Alchemy," the narrative of the EP dips low on "Slumber" as a way to invite you down the sonic rabbit hole. "Most of this shit is really perception, it's no perspective/Most of my niggas is the exception, the water keep us reflective/That's why I gotta repeat it, pearls of wisdom repeated." The rapid-fire alliteration on "P's and Q's" is a flex of perspicacious proportions reminiscent of lyrical challenges like Jay Z's "22 Two's" while stand out "Get Up Get Down" has the makings of a backyard house party staple. "Your Love," an ode to a "5'3" with the Crown Royal skin-tone" girl, and "40 Below," a memory of a lady he fiended for, ("Random nights I lurked on her Facebook page") dwells on the peaks and the pitfalls of the emotion that rules us all.

Overall, Mick's fluid wordplay is securely anchored by Chicago production collective THEMpeople with a feature from Canadian electro producer Kaytranada on "Your Love." While the new sound is surprisingly more melodic than his past work, the jazzy, syncopated beats sometimes overpower the artist they're met to complement. A clear exception to the rule of what's poppin' in the game right now, Wave[s] works because substance supersedes hype. Jenkins' lyrical arithmetic is so concentrated that it's meant to be listened to over and over.

Gearing up for his debut album, The Healing Component, Mick uses Wave[s] to show his growth, versatility and risk-taking fearlessness. And although it doesn't pan out on every track, the cohesive work allows the listener to feel that they've plunged into the depths of Mick's mind and come out with a soaked sense of clarity. —Sidney Madden

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