The Deli is a collaborative effort between Moka Only and Baptiste Hayden. Their self-titled debut album dropped earlier this year. I had the chance to check it out recently, mostly due to receiving “Like This” as a submission. A track about crafting dope rhymes, being a good person and just living your best life, “Like This” is boombap jazz-rap meets motivational hip-hop. Sonically, the piano keys twinkling throughout the song let us hone in on the lyrics even more. For instance, the first verse finds listeners explaining why Moka and Hayden aren’t like your typical rapper/instrumentalist duo. If the beat was overproduced, I feel the bars wouldn’t have as much of an impact. Its minimalistic approach is appreciated, because things don’t seen over the top.

It’s a laidback sort of track, but one that also has a healthy heaping ton of conscious bars and motivating lyrics. If you’ve never heard Moka Only, stop reading this and check out the indie legend’s work. Once you do and you discover if he’s your cup of tea, come back here. If you liked his other stuff, you’ll definitely give this one a spin. Inversely, if you’re still on the fence, “Like This” may be the song to move you over the finish line. Either way, you’re getting incredibly lyricism, contemplative bars and introspection all throughout this close-to-three-minutes-long song.

Check out “Like This” and its parent album below and remember to support dope music in all its forms.