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Reviewed by Anna Loveys

PNC: The Codes

Reviewed by Anna Loveys

PNC: The Codes

The Bazooka Kid is back with his fifth studio album, two years in the making. This time PNC (Sam Hansen) has switched up his style, experimenting with elements of dance and electronica, while keeping true to his commanding strength, the lyrical flow which has been a prominent feature in his writing since his days as a young MC.

The sleek and elegant production can be linked to hip hop producer Matt Miller, Fire and Ice and Forty One, with help in artistic direction from State Of Mind’s Patrick Hawkins.

You may have already heard 100 Cups and Ride (featuring P. Digsss), that together usher towards an understanding of the different aesthetic timbres on this new release, from the heavy rolling gangsta beatz to lighter dance anthems. Spacious synthesised textures hark back to the peach-coloured ’80s era, and come into play on tracks like Nights Like This, SWRVN and Gray Matter (featuring Bailey Wiley). The guest artists couldn’t be chosen more perfectly for the tracks they feature on.

The stellar crew includes up-and-coming flame Bailey Wiley, Pieter T, Tyra Hammond and David Dallas who appear separately on bonus tracks Kobe & LeBron and Like a Dream. PNC has taken the core elements of what makes his craft endearing and further developed them around engaging new contexts, resulting in his best work yet.