For some creatives, a blank page presents an intimidating void to fill. For producer Melks and rapper Navi, it’s a promising starting point — and a surprising finish line. The Massachusetts duo’s new hip-hop record Open Canvas (released July 19) treats artistic possibilities as tantamount to the end product, a mentality that’s often referenced in creative circles but rarely implemented.
Even as the 13-track collaboration hums with personal narratives, the record feels centered around the processes that directly guide an artist’s output. “Struggling,” for instance, walks through a grounding morning routine that swaps checking phone notifications for meditation. “Meta World,” on the other hand, reaches upwards, exalting brushstrokes of imagination streaked across the sky. In that blissful bar, the pair relish the potential of what’s still to come, even after they’ve buttoned up their recent work.
After all, the album called is Open Canvas — not “completed canvas.” Tune in below.