”Bruv” Finds Elcamino in Passport Mode (EP Review)
2nd extended play of 2026 & the 22nd overall from Buffalo, New York emcee & singer Elcamino. Blowing up almost a decade ago off his self-titled EP with Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs the year after that. They Spit on Jesus proved to be a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut becoming the first Camino project that I had covered since On the 3rd Day & that much like No Weapon Formed Against Me was an improvement over some of the material we’ve gotten from him in recent memory. Real Bad Man would produce The Game is the Game followed by Ill Tone producing Built for Cuban Links named after Raekwon’s iconic solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… produced by RZA in addition to flexing his Millionaire status & Full Moon showing a heavy Future influence. Martyr’s Prayer III produced by 38 Spesh made for a gratifying conclusion to the beloved trilogy as did Mino, but now he’s coming off the Ill Tone-produced God is Love to drop Bruv.
“London Bruv” hops over a soulful boom bap instrumental to give his flowers to the United Kingdom’s capital whereas “Green Beret” produced by Ill Tone continues the chop up the soul samples talking about those kind of people not getting a whole lot of love. “Adele” keeps the crooning chipmunk soul vibes going using the same rhyme scheme for a couple minutes while “You’re Here” talks about doing it all for the glory & taking pride in the joys of him being African American.
The song “Getting Old” continues Bruv’s last leg going completely drumless to speak of knowing he’d lock himself in since there was always more in store for him than what he’s already achieved while “Eating Steaks” brings back the sampling techniques so he can talk about being in Paris for Fashion Week last year, embracing some jazzier undertones additionally. The closer concludes the EP with a chipmunk soul outro calling out a backstabber who doesn’t wanna see the “Other Side”.
Although I lean a little more towards God is Love, I can appreciate Elcamino getting in passport mode for Bruv since France & the UK have always been my 3rd & #1 biggest audiences outside of the States respectively. The production’s more soulful than it’s primarily drumless predecessor & Meech details a hustler philosophy with runway lighting including overseas backdrops, designer details & war-ready bars balanced by flashes of family, memory, the weight of who didn’t make it, grief, pressure & discipline through flexes that he earned himself.
Score: 8/10
