Sometimes, and perhaps this hasn’t happened to you but it most certainly has for me, describing why you appreciate a certain artist is perplexing. It might not be because of what they physically say in their songs, or even the sound of the music itself, but you still enjoy it thoroughly; leaving the most logical conclusion to be that it must be some “secret sauce.” I can’t say I really care much for the message Zelooperz is trying to convey in his newest single “Euphorbia Milli” — not that the title makes the task any easier— yet something about the composition of his melodies, matched with the cadence of his flow, captivates me. And this wouldn’t be his first track that has caught me in this confusing trance.
By no means am I insinuating that Zelooperz is a bad artist. It’s more of a compliment to his ability to combine rather simple ingredients and still formulate compelling works of art. Or maybe, I’m just full of it. I’ll leave that up to you.
Zelooperz is best known for his 2019 boom-bap style rap project Dyn-O-Mite, with the most notable track (which I previously alluded to) being “Easter Sunday” featuring Earl Sweatshirt. Perhaps Zelooperz “secret sauce” is his ability to capture a nostalgic sound through him and his producers’ chopping of samples along with a voice which, without reasoning, has tastes of early 90’s rap. This combination is found on both “Easter Sunday” and the track in focus here, “Euphorbia Milli.” Easy to say this window is where Zelooperz shines.
I would argue one of the most exciting periods of the song is the first 15 seconds, where a metronome sets the stage for Zelooperz opening his mostly-acapella verse. After a brief few seconds, the piano clocks in mid-verse, which really sets a warm and powerful sounding base for the lyrics to glide on. I wouldn’t be surprised if this song took inspiration from Kendrick Lamar, specifically his 2022 track “Father Time,” which has a similar introduction to the beat, while also offering that nostalgia-esque theme. Around half way through the track, the beat doesn’t necessarily switch, but rather evolves with additional soundbites. But in all honesty, probably lasting a little longer than it needs to.
Maybe you’re not on board this crazy train with me. But if you are, this song keeps a smile on your face, tasting a little bit like old times, but also filling you with optimism for what’s ahead. And we all could use that sweet balance of past and present in our life. Hopefully, this single is a precursor to more Zelooperz projects in the future (hopefully an album) which I will for sure write about if that happens. Thanks Zelooperz for making music that I can’t explain, but somehow takes me back to little TJ.
