8/10

Over these last few years, fast-rising New York rapper Y.N.X. 716 has cemented himself as one of the more prolific names in the US rap game. Turning out a wealth of rich and enigmatic releases, including two studio albums in the form of 'Messages In Time' and 'Messages In Money$' last year, he has spent much of the last few months refining his sound in order to stand out from so many additions to the hip-hop arena of late. And now he returns with the collaborative new EP 'Conceptual Thoughts' alongside DJ Concept, a collection that pushes his aesthetic even further.

While it has an extremely spritely pace to it, knocking out six incredibly immersive offerings in less than fifteen minutes, 'Conceptual Thoughts' still manages to find plenty of new and interesting ideas in which to explore. With Concept's unique approach to production that takes influence from a wide variety of genres and textures, all layered amongst Y.N.X. 716's driven and emotive flow at every turn, these two not only suit each other's style extremely well, but also seek a more dynamic approach to their respective agendas, resulting in a wildly captivating listen from start to finish.

Both artists have been keen to establish themselves on the scene these last few years, but coming together on 'Conceptual Thoughts' feels like one of the more progressive moments in their careers so far. Dabbling in a diverse direction that allows them both to cultivate an inventive appeal throughout, their collaborative EP sits as one of the more exciting offerings to have emerged from the New York space right now.

Conceptual Thoughts is available now through all major digital retailers and streaming platforms via Crisis Center Collective.