What happens when the “quirky kid” of the bunch tries to pen down his emotions and be emotionally vulnerable? We’ll never know as the Jaipur-based rapper-comedian and (self-proclaimed) Nobel Laureate wolf.cryman once again masks deep introspection with his humorous tinge in the sequel of his 2021 debut EP, the aptly titled Dil Fenk Ke Marunga 2 (because that is how numbers and counting works). Sequel in the most true sense of the word, the second coming brings back the tongue-in-cheek style we’ve come to expect from Wolfie, while also showing the journey he has made in his art along the way.
While the first part divulged into the themes of old-timey heartbreak and hopeless romanticism, Cryman now presents a more rom-com-influenced album, with production shifting from melancholic jazz to a brighter pop and funk-inspired soundscape. Another way this is a true sequel is similar to how the earlier announced Bhediya EP shaped up to be the future Dil Fenk Ke Marunga, Dil Fenk Ke Marunga 2 comes after the shelving of the 2022 announced EP, Pyaar aur Gussa, with the tracks ‘Aisi Waisi’ and ‘Ik Kudi’ surviving the transition.
Evident from the writing, production and even the album art depicting a werewolf (possibly an artistic rendition of Wolf.cryman) throwing his heart in frustration, the original’s heartbreak moves on to a newfound romanticism, with the cover art showing Wolfie handing over his heart to a female wolf. Divvied up into two parts, the album starts with the TTYL-produced ‘Jina Abhi Baaki Hai’ which reiterates this spirit of finding faith in love which comes after moving on from any heartbreak, a reminder that there’s more to life than remaining stuck up on a setback.
The first half of the album builds upon the thematic foundation laid by the opening track, offering a pop-rap sound with touches of 80s disco and funk, especially the Faizan-produced Spin On It, the first of the many cameos he has in the project’s production and its hooks. ‘Aise Kaise’ and ‘DFKM, Pt 1’ present an alt bedroom fused with jazz sonic treatment, almost sounding fit for the soundtrack of any forthcoming slice-of-life web series. Another man deserving his share of flowers is Nanku, whose hallmark cheeky delivery flows smoothly over the sultry notes of Balance Cooper’s production.
The latter half brings back the memories which were forgotten in the previous half, showcasing the torment they bring back with them, as seen in the spitefully written ‘F*ck you’ and the remorse anthem ‘Laanat’ starring Dhanji and Culture Ghalib, but regaining senses from an influx of what at the end of the day are some ugly emotions, Wolf.cryman iterates a newfound purpose on Monké, preaching the mantra of “reject humanity, return to monké”, seeking simpler times as a respite from the responsibilities, aspirations and needs arising as a part of living in these modern times, and finally leading to resurrection of those mushy feelings when someone new walks in, leading up to the outro track ‘Ik Kudi’, tying a neat bow over the two-project long story as wolfie finally finds someone who has caught that feka hua dil.
One standout element of this project was the magic Faizan weaved in the tracks he produced and sang for, Arpit Bala’s melodious vocals on Ik Kudi, and all things Circle Tone related were a highlight as well. Another aspect which stood out was the amazingly witty skits, clearly showing Wolfie’s miles as a comedian. Along with supplementing the humour we’ve come to expect from his works, they also carried forward the thematic journey. One won’t be mistaken if they observed influences from the work of Bo Burnham and The Lonely Island.
Wolf.cryman has returned once more with a project chock-full of his hilarious yet deep-cutting writing and laden with a sonic landscape straight out of rom-coms along the ages. The sequel doesn’t fall short of the expectations set by its predecessor and leaves us wanting more to listen from the bhediya.
Listen to the album here:
