The Hip-Hop Slowcore Revolution

Genre: Emo, Slowcore, Electronic, Pop Sign Crushes Motorist has been one of the premier Slowcore artists over the last few years, building a cult following online as an Emo darling, incorporating multiple elements that have created a distinctive style of music that hits all the high points of the internet’s favorite genres. Artist, 19-year-old Liam McCay, who has been releasing music under the name Sign Crushes Motorist (named after the Duster song), has released a new album, The Saddest Truth (BuVision Records), with producer KayCee, meshing two genres that have borrowed from each other for years to create a solid piece that effortlessly uses emo and slowcore as a foundation for hiphop and pop lyrcism and themes. 

Painting by: Ilya Repin

Slowcore as the New Soundtrack 

Over the last few years, the genre of Slowcore, an extension of Shoegaze, has become increasingly popular as music sharing has evolved again through TikTok. With Duster finally receiving their due recognition, Sign Crushes Motorist has filled the gap left by the missing genre through their interpretation of it. As genres evolve, SCM is at the center of the changing parameters and branches out on this new release to demonstrate the transcendent nature of slowcore, while also highlighting the importance of collaboration and common ground in creation. 

On "The Saddest Truth," the sound associated with Slowcore Music (SCM) is reappropriated through Hip-Hop production, bringing an entirely new idea of what Slowcore can sound like. SCM has been known for its minimalism, but partnering with KayCee brings a full-bodied, modern edge that elevates the lush production into a transformative album, allowing SCM to reach a new fan base. 

Ethereal Ethos

Through the record, the ethereal undercurrent pushes the tracks forward, with KayCee’s romantic leanings, it’s reminiscent of Ye and Donda by Kanye West. The third track, “Make Sure You’re Loved” ft. JinJin is one of the crown jewels of the record, with a stunning hymnal-esque arrangement that swells repeatedly following the organ tones and group vocals echoing through the last half of the track. It’s an ambitious testament to partnership. 

The Saddest Truth uses features sparingly, but in a conscious choice, the featured artists shine on their respective tracks, allowing the production to act as their primary artist, and their vocals and features are the additional piece that completes the track. 

Further into the track listing is “BRUISED,” a more traditional dark trap song that evokes a sense of urgency and tension-building 808s, which build the narrative of a struggling couple. Bruised is reminiscent of the trap music that dominated playlists and was the new sound of emo music in the late 2010s. On the final track “LEAD ME FATHER,” the hymnal church choir returns on the track, creating an otherworldly association. The textured production gives the finale a powerful send-off that bridges the gap between the atmospheric traditions of SCM and KayCee's genre-bending, sampling approach to finalize their sonic experiment. 

Final Verdict

While the production and arrangements are stunning, longtime fans of Kanye West may find this record to have a derivative nature. Still, overall, the partnership between Sign Crushes Motorist and KayCee has proven to be worth the listen. The Shoegaze adjacent melodies and the edgier Hip-Hop are a perfect match, and overall, Saddest Truth is an album that pushes the boundaries of CSM and Kaycee, showcasing a new era of artistry and ideology. 

Rating: 7/10