MCKINLEY DIXON - Magic, Alive! (Review)

Written by: The Administrator

When it comes to jazz rap in the modern era, McKinley Dixon quite simply has no equal. His stellar Beloved! Paradise! Jazz​!​? handily made my Favorite Albums of 2023, and I'm pleased to announce that this follow-up is an even clearer distillation of his uniquely vibrant style. Indeed, the Chicago rapper has only grown more competent when it comes to imbuing his projects with seemingly effortless fluidity and lushness.

The live instrumentation feels profoundly alive, relishing in a bold and organic eclecticism. On the title track, for example, jazz guitar flirts with sparkling flutes, chaperoned by scintillating sax. It feels like a whole lot is going on, but somehow the underlying boom-bappy vibe keeps it grounded. Elsewhere, clean piano communes with brash brass, riding funky bass and crisp drums. The percussion is particularly exciting, continuing infusing tracks with an exciting energy. Some tracks are dusty and pattering, some are overtly growling and menacing. Some lean into the wailing lamentation of the saxophone. Some are almost overpoweringly bright and colorful, like unto listening to music through a sun-drenched prism.

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There's a strong sense of improvisation despite the calculated application of vocals--when it comes to his delivery, it consistently feels like McKinley Dixon is rapping with the instrumentation, rather than over it. There's a true intermingling at play, and while on paper it seems like it would sound chaotic, there's a throughline of clean precision. It could sound excessive, it could sound messy. It simply does not. And his rapping itself is simply stellar. His flows are inventive, and his inclination to lean into unexpected inflections truly demonstrates his voice as a dynamic instrument. Every bar is engaging. His wordsmithery is punchy and poignant, and it never feels like a word is wasted. There's a million little moments that stick in my mind with barbed tenacity. Narratively and thematically, Magic, Alive! is a concept album wherein a group of friends discussed raising another friend from the dead. As such, it feels endearingly innocent--jubilant, even--while simultaneously dealing with hefty emotion. ​
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The features are another praiseworthy element--McKinley Dixon is a master curator, with each feature truly serving the track without ever feeling like a cross-promotional move. He brings out the best in everyone, and will even morph a track so that a guest's delivery hits as hard as possible. On "Crooked Stick," for example, chaotic sax and aggressive drums serve as the instrumental backing for Ghais Guevera's rough vocal mixing, a choice that serves to emphasize a certain unhinged nature of his delivery. And I'll always shoutout ICECOLDBISHOP, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite feature artists. On "All the Loved Ones," McKinley Dixon utilizes ICECOLDBISHOP's singularly squawky tone to great effect and impact, juxtaposing his unique delivery with some choral vocal backing.

​God, I love this album. I've spent so much time with it this past week, and am confident that it has permanently entered my lexicon of jazz rap masterpieces. Indeed, even if you a casual fan of jazz rap, I'm comfortable calling this an essential listen. In lieu of a smooth conclusion: I could talk about this album all day, so I'll cut it short here. Listen to Magic, Alive! 

McKinley Dixon - Magic, Alive! was released June 6th, 2025 via City Slang. Find it on Bandcamp here!

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McKinley Dixon can be found at Instagram and Facebook