EP REVIEW: Demon Muppy
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WRITTEN BY: Sydney Martin
Attributing to Demon Muppy’s allure is Niontay’s blase demeanor; unapologetic lyrics holding an air of mystery within their various interpretations, an EP that has aged gracefully within the year since its initial release on April 8th, 2023.
Eclectically fusing sounds from across state lines, deriving influence from Niontay’s time lived in Florida, Chicago, and now Brooklyn, Demon Muppy is an ode to musical diversity featuring 454, El Costeau, MIKE, Mavi and Earl Sweatshirt. As masterful collaborations often yield, Demon Muppy serves as an audible support system, a unique fusion of these artist persona’s and demeanors allowing for a vaster resonance across audiences.
Niontay, at times emotionally detached, is powerful within his deliverance of unapologetic lyrics; thoughtful attentiveness to vocal tonality often speaking greater than lyrics across these compositions. Entrancing and entertaining, notions of time are discarded across this thirteen minutes long EP.
Spacey and playful, growing in a chaos, flickers of lighters and echoing breaths create a unique environment starting off the EP. Beaming sounds support the lyrical progression and repetition of the chorus’s centerpiece “back where I live” as initial energy dips into exhaustion. Self assured attitudes begin to unravel as the composition reaches back to sounds of solitude: the waves at a beach, people in the distance, and quiet cries followed by the sipping of a beverage.
Upbeat attitudes are cultivated within Supa Bowl LVIII(feat.454) revealing a celebratory arena of cheers, a haven of community existing far from the solitude depicted in the first song. Complimenting Niontay’s confident yet relaxed vocals are 454’s autotuned energizer bunny of a sound. This is a song characterized by rock-opera-like pianos and low, seamless bass notes, subtly enhancing the rhythmic environment.
As the digital sun has set and audible drinks have taken effect, the groovy intoxicating sounds Ridewimmie (I95er) seek partnership within a love interest; lyrical repetition and fluctuating tonality waver between sobriety and intoxication, excitement and exhaustion. Niontay’s yearning vocals extract empathy through lyrical articulation and aching momentum of this song that narrates the highs and troughs of desire, framing a very loveable character through glimpses of vulnerability. The disconnect and complex relationship of presented demeanor and what stirs beneath is expressed before a compositional plateau of tone and volume, the outro containing a slowed version of the chorus in which weariness overwhelms.
Lustful yet playful tones are executed in the form of 2AM Pete’s; slurring vocals are breathed into existence before gaining momentum, metallic chimes and animated rays segueing into In my UA Sweat’s.
Similar to past songs, Niontay’s voice is humanized without the abandonment of his adopted demeanor, a subtle shift in emotive tone allowing for infinitely interpretive lyrics: revealing someone that is contrastingly theatrical and vulnerable, but ultimately genuine. Whether lyrics are literal or attributed to a creative persona, a soft hearted, hard headed character is depicted; one we can all find a familiar face (or even reflection) in.
Speaking upon karma, authenticity, and the exhaustion that comes with both love and hate, Demon Muppy is unique within its consistent incorporation of playful and dark tones, a cheesy horror movie that is well directed and surprisingly scary. A balanced venn diagram of opposing attitudes, a designated space in which allows some of the greatest voices of underground hip-hop and rap to be heard.
BEAUTIFULLY ending the album is Real Hip-Hop, catchy and charming within a rugged seduction. Vocals ranging from coarse to rich to hollow– delivering clever lyrics back to back, allowing no breathing room to really reflect upon the entirety of the song, a composition demanding to be played on a loop.
Impressive beyond understanding, Niontay is set to perform in Philadelphia with MIKE, El Cousteau and 454 on April 17th at Union Transfer; one can only hope Real Hip-Hop is performed amongst the artists.
Upon each listen, new meanings emerge and infinitely amaze.
Layers and layers of thought and heart collectively form this EP, whose cover is a green stick figure holding a rifle, and name is Demon Muppy.
Punctuations of bells are laced throughout, often used as beat drops. Simple expressions of “Yep” and “Nope” allows tone’s to shift promptly with ease, playfulness delving into darkness, transitions perfectly placed they often go unnoticed.
Demon Muppy melds mellow hip-hop with gravelly rap and amped-up hyper pop; a collection of the industry’s artists that unfailingly extend an embracement of all person’s and stories through delivery too impressive to refuse.
