Where “Pillow Talking Weather” stands apart from the rest of the genre’s masses is in the fleshing out of the candy smothered pop goodness of those productions, and adding his own artistic flourishes that transform the album’s song building into works of actual art that will stand the test of time. There’s an undercurrent of history tying into legacy, with 21 year old Hip-hop/R&B artist and songwriter, Milo Case incorporating his musical influences into the album that is designed to turn around his career trajectory and prove he belongs in the exalted pantheon. Milo, from Richmond, Virginia, yet born and raised in Prince George’s County, MD is a multi-instrumentalist, playing the tenor saxophone, tuba, alto clarinet, alto saxophone, bass clarinet, trombone, and baritone.
Currently a full-time student at the University of Virginia, where he is pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science with a special interest in solar technology, Milo Case released his debut mixtape “The Ascent” in 2015, and then followed it up with “Cultivation” in 2017.
“Pillow Talking Weather” was released on February 28th 2018. Milo Case sounds like a conscious and confident rapper who’s looking to dominate the rap game. The album is a testament to the artist’s ability to develop interesting concepts and tell incredible stories, not to mention his ear for great production.
Milo Case delivers bars that is not only dedicated to showcasing his lyrical prowess or standout flow, but to diffuse information and ideals.
The key pillars to creating an outstanding mixtape or album project are maintaining a good balance of variation, beats that captivate, and statements of intent by the artist. “Pillow Talking Weather” contains all three, most importantly an undeniable declaration of Milo Case as a force to be reckoned with in the Hip Hop underground.
Right from the opening track, “Wanna Do (Intro)”, this mixtape is enthralling on a sonic level, but Milo Case keeps up lyrically, his flow more than malleable enough to fit with the jazzy and soulful grooves that make up the warm soundscapes which abound on “Pillow Talking Weather”.
Musically, what we have here makes for an effort that stands pound for pound above the average mixtape production. Whether Milo Case is in introspection mode, where songs are rife with slow and deliberate shimmering keys and hugging basslines, as on “Kickback” and “End Of Time”, or amid thumpier kick drums alongside beefier low-end, like on “Low Key” and “Food For Thought(Outro)” there’s never a dull sonic moment.
Overall, the beats here are just fantastic, jam-packed with jazzy, soulful and bluesy sounds but never maximal in nature. It comes as a refreshing change of pace to a hip-hop industry saturated with microwavable track beats.
Of course you can catch Milo Case singing generously and effortlessly too, on tracks like “Done To Me”, “Can’t Keep Up” and “Heaven”. Hence. If you are looking for something a little different from the norm, “Pillow Talking Weather” is an entertaining and enlightening way to chew up some time.
My only fear is that as great as this mixtape is, I expect that once again, phenomenal efforts like this will go unnoticed by rap fans distracted by an assembly line of mumble rappers. Be careful though, I have a feeling that if you keep sleeping on Milo Case, it’ll just keep fueling his fire to become even greater.
OFFICIAL LINKS: SOUNDCLOUD – ITUNES – INSTAGRAM
