The Wizard of Oz Inspires M Huncho’s New Album THE WIZARD

M Huncho returns with a new album titled THE WIZARD. The 15-track project has its concept drawn from “The Wizard of Oz” characters, including cast-inspired song titles such as ‘TIN MAN’ and ‘COWARDLY LION’. 

The artwork, painted by Freddie Peacock, is not exempt from this concept. Through the detailed hand-painted artwork, Freddie reinterprets a familiar cultural reference of “The Wizard of Oz” through Huncho’s lens. 

The opening track to the album, A.L.O.T, starts with a tune repeating the line “we are off to see Huncho, the wonderful wizard”. After which the rapper spotlights being a breadwinner and his potential to be more than he already is. 

All the videos on the project are handled by the same production house Red Moons. One of such visuals is ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’, in which pedestrians watch Huncho on big roadside billboards on the streets of the UK. The masked rapper speaks about people thinking that he hides his face, then follows up with “but what is the price of fame when everyone really just dies in vain?” He takes off his mask at the end of the video. 

At the heart of the album is the long-standing creative partnership with producer Quincy Tellem. On ‘CHAMPIONSHIP’, Huncho is thankful for everything he has, as he believes it could all go in a flash. The music video peeks into his lifestyle, from expensive jewellery to designer bags and exotic vehicles. 

The British rapper continues his long-running affection for football references on some tracks. ‘WILD ‘N’ FREE’ featuring North Carolina rapper sosocamo spotlights M Huncho using a double entendre on Manchester City and the English club’s star player with “still man’s city, I’m Erling yeah”. The British rapper also mentioned that he doesn’t rap, he preaches. sosocamo holds the second verse, and both rappers are seen in a foggy room in the visuals. 

Other football-related songs on the album are ‘PUSH THE BUTTON’ which nods to Arsenal player Myles Lewis-Skelly and ‘JULIO’ which draws inspiration from American footballer Julio Jones. 

On ‘10 ON THE GO’, Huncho confronts the judgment he’s faced throughout his career, owing to his Muslim faith. He also addresses that, growing up, his father was always working so they never celebrated Father’s Day. With longtime collaborator Nafe Smallz on ‘STRANDED @ SEA’, the former thanks the Lord for waking up rich and promises he won’t stop. 

With its self-explanatory title, Headie One makes an appearance on ‘CASH STACKIN’. Named after the tax authority, ‘HRMC’ highlights Huncho bragging about dealing with wholesales and he reflected on how he went from being a pessimist to an optimist. 

On the closing track ‘LONG SLEEVE HENRY’, the binational rapper mentions barely speaking English to his daughter because he prefers communication in “mother tongue” and he beefs with nobody except the government. Huncho introspectively adds that sometimes, he hates the real him.