Phranchyze

3

This online album doubles as Phranchyze’s seventh in four years. Though certain releases have boasted more original production than others (August 2012’s Phranye West), they’ve all been of the same ilk: clever and charismatic, with a penchant for rusticity. 3 spreads out from a cooler vein than many of the South Austin MC’s past releases, incorporating synth-heavy production (“I Got,” “Igloo”) from Rawtid Tunes and FrescoThaProducer that wrap wide around Phranchyze’s narrow flow. Issues of cultural displacement (“Oreo,” “Weirdo,” “Close to Me”) dominate typical bombast (“Doper”), but it’s no surprise that the album’s anthem comes at the end, on the Tameca Jones-assisted “Can’t Change.” That one values production most. Such reliance would benefit Phranchyze’s next go-round.

**.5

This article appears in February 7 • 2014.

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