A-F-R-O POLO EP by A-F-R-O and Marco Polo

Who is A-F-R-O? James Gutierrez aka A-F-R-O (All Flows Reach Out) is a 18 year old rapper hailing from Southern California. Most people reading this probably have no clue who this young man is so I'm here to give you this introduction, He is the protege of legendary underground MC R.A. The Rugged Man and was discovered via a freestyle contest that RA was hosting to search the next upcoming rapper on Youtube and now the two are now partners in order to bring back pride and respect for the rhymers who built it all up cause they are share the same vision what they want the future of hip hop to be. The Young MC does listen to current hip hop scene but he prefers the golden era of hip hop, he said why he prefer the old era than this current and I quote via uproxx “I’m not really a fan of the new stuff, I recognize that some of them are pretty dope, but to me it’s the voice first thing of all, and I don’t really hear anyone new whose voice is really dope. I’m always a fan first. When I see legends as someone I look up to and other dudes will not see them as a legend like I do, it blows my mind. With these guys, they’re like superheroes, the OG's will always matter in hip-hop to me. For me, it’s a blessing even being in their presence. When they don’t get the love they deserve, it’s mind blowing to me.” To be honest I never heard his music before I seen articles posted about him, a skit with Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and a freesstyle via RA Youtube channel, looking through his discography he has a couple of projects on his Band Camp page and from what I heard this is I guess this is his debut project not album but a Debut EP. and oh if you're wondering who Marco Polo is, he's a producer from Canada and he has worked with guys mainly from the underground hip hop scene. So with that introduction lets dive right into this.


The EP kicks off with the Lead single "Long Time Coming" and damn what an amazing introduction to this project, what an quite first impression on here. Love the sample to this track, this track has a like anthem quite feel to it and the hook with old school vibes with the dj scratches all over hear and that AFRO is in the house and its been a long time coming to get an debut from this kid, overall good shit. "Nightmare On Fro Shit" is a solid track, with this I guess 'horrorcore" vibe but not really, where AFRO paints this picture when's its Halloween and he's Freddy Kruger, killing his victims  and smoking that good good. His flow is insane and the kid is going off, I Am disappointed that these lyrics is not a rap genius but god damn just bars all over this track and this entire EP. Track three features legendary underground Pharoahe Monch and first discovered Phaoroahe through Eminem who Em gave him a major co sign. Listening to this AFRO reminds a bit of someone I know and even he did a mixtape dedicated to him, DOOM. I know that probably seems a reach to you but to me he reminds a bit of the metal face MC himself, back to this track this two have amazing chemistry, the hook is a lil goofy where he changes his voice that reminds of Dracula but that's whatever to me, but Monch came through with a solid guest verse and I wished he would drop another project his last project was pretty slept on back in 2014. "Sunshine and Flowers" has this laid back funky synth west coast so happy as a west coast guy and AFRO being from southern California at least give use a west coast vibe track and this is personally my favorite song on here. My favorite line that I did chuckle at when he kicked off that first verse with "Fuck you money grubbing, hungry hungry hippo ass bitches, Get in the kitchen, wash the dishes, The smartest thing to come out of your mouth, my dick, That's why you shouldn't speak unless you spoken too bitch" and another line here which was "Your pussy looks like chap lips, catfish, Black dick in that pussy, that I call an access" ha yeah that was pretty clever word play and pretty straight forward to put her in check. "Fro Armstrong" pictures the young god that he's in space seeing aliens and shooting them and with the whole DJ scratches it pictures me like those old school 106 and park backroom freestyles, and yeah like I said he reminds me of DOOM cause who he would picture himself as hero or villain but AFRO rapping and painting this scenario very well done like Freddy and even a fucking astronaut and yeah I have honestly no complaints on this track I like it, I smiled throughout this whole track and was head bopping.

The last track is probably my least favorite, I don't think this track is trash it seems way too slow and smooth and his voice didn't the song, I enjoy the hook from Eamon but I thought track was just okay and probably my least favorite track. Now they were two bonus tracks on here I cause via streaming sites like apple music and I think Spotify and soundcloud as well which were "Lair of the Black Worm" and "Joe Jackson", Black Worm was pretty cool and sounds like another horrorcore vibes to it and think he's painting himself as Black Dracula and has this very eerie sample and production and don't go to his lair cause you won't survive in that motherfucker. "Joe Jackson" is a really good track, and huge fuck anthem to his haters and how he gonna tortures his haters and love the chilly chill chill production, gave me a chill down my spine, once again another track that I have no complaints.


Final thoughts is that if you're a hip hop head who loves underground and hates the mainstream rap music you highly love this project, and if your not really into the underground scene I would still recommended this project. It gave me memories of my youth and nostalgia when I would listen to underground music and love that this kid has respect for the craft and for someone who hasn't rapped for that long knows the whole craft and make good rap music and knows how to put together a solid track. So yeah I'm a lot more curious to hear what he does next man and shout to the young god here man and shout out to RA The Rugged Man for discovering this kid, this is probably my favorite EP this year and makes my top ten of albums so far this year maybe even my top 5 later this year when I do my list so yeah I highly recommend this. You made a very good impression on me. That's all for today, Robert Garcia out.

Favorite Tracks: Long Time Coming, Nightmare On Fro Street, Swarm, Sunshine and Flowers, Fro Armstrong, Joe Jackson

Least Favorite Track: Use The Blues