We’ve got a beautiful boombap beat, two accomplished indie rappers (one of which is also a producer on the EP), and two minutes and forty seconds. And all that comes together to create “Journeymen,” a rapper’s rapper song. That’d be the end of this piece if you just wanted the bare minimum. But I’m almost always extra, so let’s get into.

There are, even if you’re not a hip-hop head, so many things we can appreciate about this song. First, the flow. 60 East just coasts over the jazzy instrumental, speaking his piece about societal craziness he’s seen–along with just making music to heal, educate and hone your craft. A-F-R-O handles the second part of our “why this is awesome list,” as the other highly-regarded artist here produced the beat. Sonically, it’s got, as mentioned, that boombap, “let me speak on the real” vibe. It’s also got an undertone of nostalgia, a sense of “where I’ve been, what I’ve done and who I was don’t exist anymore like those accomplishments did at that time.” Third, it’s honest and real. I applaud that type of music that isn’t afraid to get after what I feel this one does.

You know the routine: go support dope music in all its forms. Go support lyrical rap if that’s your jam, but as vintage the sound of this one is, “Journeymen” has quite a few modern sensibilities.