Mooch – “Da 5th Power” (Album Review)

Mooch is a 29 year old MC from Rochester, New York most notable for being a part of Da Cloth. He came onto my radar just last year when he dropped 3 solo albums & then a collab effort with Rigz but after a 4 month delay, Mooch is enlisting Thank5th for his 4th full-length album.

The album kicks off with “Puro”, where Mooch talks over being the illest over a luxurious piano instrumental. The next song “Slap” talks about fucking someone up over a gully instrumental while the track “Hard Knock” with Rigz sees the 2 talking about growing up in NY over chipmunked-vocal sample. The song “Grab da Work” talks about hustling over a grim instrumental & after the “Pandemic Coke” skit, the track “Microwave” reunites with Rigz to continue the themes of drug dealing over a soulful beat.

The song “Going Back to Cali” talks about hoping he never relapses over a dramatic instrumental while the track “Care Less talks about being him over a melancholic beat. The song “I Need You” talks about romance over a lush boom bap instrumental while the penultimate track “Tuesday” with Rob Gates & Rome Streetz finds the trio talking about the reckless shit they do over a ghostly beat. The album ends with “Cure”, where Mooch compares his music to an antidote over a lavish instrumental.

Dude’s one of my favorites members of Da Cloth & this new album was well worth waiting a few months for. I wish it was a bit longer, but Thank5th’s production is on point & Mooch continues to reveal himself as one of the illest lyricists that the Big Apple has to offer today.

Score: 7/10