BROKE BABY TAPES: THE FIRST INSTALLMENT

Ilya Semple
16 hours ago
2 min read

Best get out his way, though Motive105 might “feel like the boy right now”, his latest EP, Broke Baby ‘1999 marks his maturest affirmation yet. Within just five tracks, the West-London rapper blesses fans with a concise, stripped-back insight into his current moment and momentum. Bass, brass and album art exuding class, this release’s soulful chimes spread like butter beneath effortless lyricism. Hard-hitting features on ‘UNDER SURVEILLANCE’ contrast the EP’s softer sides, for Broke Baby ‘1999 relies less on collaboration than prior releases, homing in on Motive105’s individual brilliance.

Uncompromising earnestness sits at the intersection between the strife and triumphs of balancing a musical career with personal life. Perfecting the balance of vulnerability and self-assuredness, Motive guides his ego along a compellingly candid narrative of his hustle. The title itself - ‘Broke Baby [since] ‘1999’ – reflects the tensions between ambition and adversity. Throughout, personal insights reinforce authenticity and ‘PERFECT INTERLUDE’ is proof of Motive’s levels: a fully realised track where one might expect simple instrumentals, finishing “this ain’t written for no listener”. Perhaps he hopes to beckon active hearing in this regard, for despite introspection, Motive never loses sight of those closest. His heart extends from this EP towards intimate familial connections, warmly navigating the dualities between rocking cradles after studio sessions.

https://youtu.be/WMlIhsFmUl4?si=xVHWfWtZtEbHzPs-

Sold-out shows and recent success never intrude on Motive’s continuous ability to stay grounded. On Broke Baby ‘1999, he leans into the raw energy of bars and rhythm, drawing from the influence of Freddie Gibbs and Boldy James when pushing production forward without compromising the natural richness of his flow and craft. Best of all, this is only a teaser. Motive boasts he merely had to “look through [his] archives” to assemble this EP, reassuring his audience that their connection won’t falter, through the honesty of his music and the promise of two more releases this year. Expect even bigger leaps and bounds in the future; Motive105 has no intention of waiting for his flowers before proving himself all over again.

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