userdeleted_95

Being mysterious in an age when secrecy is all but dead isn’t an easy task. And if you’re an artist, it’s a strange creative choice given how much rides on being discovered. Then there’s userdeleted_95, or Foreigner McLaren, one half of New Jersey group Critical Boys, a prolific producer turned rapper who buries his musical catalog in alter-egos and finstagram pages. But recently, he’s focused on accumulating a distinct sound and vision through well thought out projects that can finally be found on proper streaming services.

With Album Deleted, userdeleted_95 has delivered a short but sweet effort of eight curated tracks running just over 15 minutes. If you’re looking to discover something under-the-radar that’s filled with left-turns and twists, this project is for you. The intro “File Corrupt” opens with a murky yet electronic instrumental that matches “Dark Mode”‘s soulful samples and underlying bass. It pairs perfectly with “Don’t Tell Your Wife About This Game! (18)+” where the rapper delivers half-whispered, half-slurred bars. The song titles are longer than the project itself. The self-produced affair is cohesive, catchy and a trip into a strange if not insular world. It’s midnight marauding music.

In the past, user’s ear for melodies and sing-songy flows are highlighted by witty bars beneath autotune that’s utilized for effect, not a relevance play. Take “Line”, a hypnotic loop from his me: … no one: … project. Instead of contemplating or even threatening to switch his cellphone number because of frequent female callers, he shrugs it off as a simple humble brag paired with some brutal honesty – “Some of us really just hate / Some of us really get paid. / I took this girl on a date / I am just glad that she ate.” It’s a brief reprise of humility in a song that projects the utmost hubris.

userdeleted_95 may still have some flushing out to do in the personal identity department, but it’s definitely a fun ride to listen to him get there. Stream Album Deleted below and stay tuned for more. In other music updates, be sure to revisit HYPEBEAST’s latest installment of Best New Tracks featuring new offerings from Kid Cudi, Playboi Carti and Westside Gunn. -