E L U C I D – Equiano (feat. Shabaka Hutchings): Review & Analysis

E L U C I D and Shabaka Hutchings Just Dropped a Sonic Fever Dream: “Equiano”

If you’ve been paying attention to the NYC underground, you know E L U C I D doesn’t really do “easy listening.” As one-half of Armand Hammer (with billy woods), he’s spent years dismantling the boundaries of hip-hop. His latest solo offering, “Equiano” featuring the heavy-hitting Shabaka Hutchings, is no exception. It’s raw, it’s disjointed, and it’s arguably some of his most vital work to date.

The Sound: Where Free Jazz Meets Industrial Grime

“Equiano” feels less like a song and more like a curated collision. E L U C I D’s production has always been a beautiful mess of influences—think the jagged edges of industrial noise softened by the complex drones of Indian classical music.

When you add Shabaka Hutchings into the mix, things get even more interesting. Hutchings doesn’t just “feature”; his woodwinds breathe and scream through the track, adding a layer of free jazz unpredictability that makes the hair on your arms stand up. It’s the sound of the future, but it’s rooted in something ancient and visceral.

The Words: Poetry as Resistance

Lyrically, E L U C I D remains a heavyweight. He isn’t interested in spoon-feeding his audience. Instead, he crafts abstract, dense verses that feel heavily indebted to the radical spirit of Audre Lorde and Amiri Baraka.

The title itself is a nod to Olaudah Equiano, the 18th-century abolitionist who wrote his way to freedom. By invoking that name, E L U C I D isn’t just rapping; he’s continuing a long-standing tradition of Black intellectual resistance, using his voice to navigate the complexities of identity and liberation in a world that often feels like it’s falling apart.

Why You Need to Listen

In a landscape full of “vibe” music designed for background listening, “Equiano” demands your full attention. It’s abrasive, intellectual, and deeply soul-stirring.

• For fans of: Armand Hammer, Moor Mother, or anyone who thinks jazz and rap should be more dangerous.

• The Vibe: A midnight walk through a dystopian Brooklyn where the ghosts of the past are talking back.