Génies en herbe

Call them the veteran and the upstart, or the old-schooler and the up-and-comer, but Quebec rappers Koriass and FouKi each rule the game in their own way. The former is a rugged, existentially troubled, road-weary MC whose heart is in the right place; the latter's butter-smooth, singsong flow has made him one of the province’s most hotly tipped young artists. After several one-off collaborations, the 7ième Ciel Records labelmates' first full album—which translates as "budding geniuses”—showcases both their lyrical prowess and their love of weed. On the airy title track, they muse on topics like fame and COVID-19 over a spare beat by album producers Ruffsound and QuietMike. The two MCs' distinct styles fuse equally well on the edgier "Marée haute" as they ride the bare-bones loop with raw confidence. And they coast through "Tout c'qui faut," trading bars to the steady bobbing rhythm with ease as they riff on all the good things they've got. Their conclusion, particularly apt in the era of coronavirus: “We have everything we need.”