At times, life lands us in situations we never envisioned ourselves to be in. Maybe it’s the death of a loved one, maybe a breakup or a betrayal, but the truth is, pain is inevitable, only suffering is optional. Everyone suffers and grieves differently. Some go through the process relatively quickly, while others struggle to find peace for several years. The longer it takes to process grief, the more likely a person is to turn to drugs or alcohol.
MC Kode’s recent struggles have been well-documented online. While one can only imagine how tough it must have been to deal with, Kode still coming out with this project shows he has a lot more left in the tank than people might think. Zeher EP is the comeback project by MC Kode which narrates his story of getting trapped in the drug circle.
MC Kode makes a strong start with Zeher EP
The project follows a common theme of using woman/love as a metaphor for drugs. Kode starts with Vishkanya on an old-school beat with a rustic melody by Vaaman. As per Hindu mythology, Vishkanya was a poisonous young lady who would destroy men just by touching them. Kode starts by narrating his struggles on a surface level which made drugs attractive to him. He compares drugs to Vishkanya, who is attractive at first but once consumed, it becomes zeher.
Next up is interlube which is a track laden with multiple easter eggs. Interlude in general means a period of time between two events or activities. Interlube in the tracklist is sandwiched between Vishkanya and Pyase ko which narrate polar opposite events and emotions. Interlube is a funky track that signifies Kode succumbing to the pursuits of Vishkanya. The retro funk vibe, upbeat drums, and the dealer sheet kinda lyricism display the euphonious state of mind of Kode. He is so under the influence and enjoying the party life that he can’t even write the interlude properly. Smart.
The third song of the EP is Pyase Ko and it is my favorite track of the project. First things first, I never imagined Kode on a drill beat, let alone ride it effortlessly. Pyase ko sees Kode narrate the scenes that happen when you eventually run out of money after having all the fun; and the problem that occurs when you want more but doesn’t have the money for it. The song follows the themes of drug dealing and street hustling on a drill beat. The choice of drill beat is genius owing to the themes in the lyrics.
Drill music is a form of trap music known for its violent and dark content. Originating from the south side of Chicago, this subgenre of hip hop music focuses on the daily occurrences and crime that occurs in the city.
Ekagra Bharadwaj gets the credit for production who in my opinion did a fabulous job, especially with the sampling and kicks. Maashu is the hidden feature in the song and delivers a hard-hitting verse of street hustle. However, his work in Interlude is my favorite in this project
Interlude and Zeher
Producer Shinji gets credits for music production in the last two songs of the EP – Interlude and Zeher; arguably two of the most impactful songs from the project. Interlude is a song of acceptance where Kode realises the harsh truth of capitalism. He realises the need for money and starts working again to support himself but that’s when he encounters drugs [brilliantly presented as a one-night fling]. Maashu shines with his philosophical lyricism-laden chorus.
Post Interlude comes the title track Zeher which completes a full circle that started off from Vishkanya. He finds himself in the same position again succumbing to the vice signifying him being trapped in a loop. Shinji tasked with expressing the lows of Kode’s expression does the job neatly with simple kicks and snares. The sampling in Interlude is a brilliant pick as it helps create an eerie undertone to the track. The drum work in Zeher is brilliant!
Conclusion
Zeher EP is a thoughtfully curated melange of symphonies describing MC Kode’s struggle with drugs. It is a roller coaster reflection of the legendary battle rapper’s mental state starting from the introspective Vishkanya to the highs of Interlube to the lows of Zeher. Overall, this is an impressive comeback from MC Kode considering all the issues that he has witnessed in his life over the last few years. Here is hoping he continues putting out more art regularly. More power to him!
You can stream the EP here!
