Finnish rapper Jesse Markin got his start with the group The Megaphone State, building up a cult following with their soulful samples and smooth, versatile rhymes. While you can still these elements in Markin’s solo music, there’s a newfound intensity that’s risen to the surface on his first LP FOLK. It was a conscious decision to begin addressing serious topics, from love and loneliness to xenophobia and greed.
On “Run” you can feel this immediately with a rush of thundering drums, synthesizer droning, and pitched-up chants. The energy only picks up as Markin jumps in, delivering fiery verses over industrial beats. Through the chaos his voice rises as the most dominant force in the music as he exudes his greatness while sneering at those stuck in their prejudices.
