Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
Angry Blackmen — the Chicago experimental hip-hop outfit of Quentin Branch and Brian Warren — present their new single, “Sabotage,” from their forthcoming album, The Legend of ABM, out January 26th, 2024 on Deathbomb Arc. Following lead single “Stanley Kubrick,” “Sabotage” is “a critique on our love / hate relationship with capitalism and perspectives on mental health,” state Branch and Warren. The song taps directly into this hopelessness with lines like “Trapped like an animal // Amerikkka the cannibal // Penny pinchin // still tryna keep up with the annual.” It is another thrilling glimpse at The Legend of ABM, which is a 30-minute coming of age narrative centered around Black men navigating this wilderness known as North America.
Listen to “Sabotage” by Angry Blackmen
Branch and Warren have been stretching their arms and tapping into different sounds since 2014, with Warren eventually suggesting they join forces as a duo towards the end of 2016. The Legend of ABM–the duo’s third release for Deathbomb Arc, the progressive Philadelphia-based label known for its avant and eclectic roster with releases from Death Grips, JPEGMAFIA, clipping., Julia Holter, U.S. Girls, and others–leaves no second wasted. The 11-track adventure, which features guest appearances from Fatboi Sharif, Nordra, Skech185, and Abbie From Mars, jumps straight to the point, utilizing catchy wordplay and spine-splitting production handled by Formants to present an expression of hip-hop not heard or seen before. If you lift up the hood, Branch and Warren are delivering a masterclass in top-notch poetic lyricism, spinning tales of depression, existentialism and self-reflection in ways that aren’t always pretty. Across The Legend of ABM, Branch and Warren spit personal anecdotes of tragedy and survival over soundscapes created from the future. It is their strongest work to date, but it’s no excursion for the weak. The two emcees provide a passionate yet introspective look at the world-at-large, their raw, pathos-infused poetry educating the listener of the pre-apocalyptic world we’re already living in. The Legend of ABM is relatable to anyone simply trying to survive.
Pre-order The Legend of ABM (Vinyl/Digital)
Watch “Stanley Kubrick” Video
Download cover art & hi-res images of Angry Blackmen
The Legend of ABM Tracklist
1. Stanley Kubrick
2. FNA
3. The Legend of ABM
4. GRIND
5. Suicidal Tendencies
6. FUCKOFF
7. Dead Men Tell No Lies (Feat. Fatboi Sharif)
8. Amor Propio (Feat. Nordra)
9. Sabotage
10. Outsiders (Feat. Skech185)
11. Magnum Opus (Feat. Abbie from Mars)
