MizorMac marked his arrival back to the UK scene with the release of the, fittingly titled, “Return of the Mac”. On it, the Kennington rapper pays tribute to his friends, particularly Latz and Bis, members of the Harlem Spartans, who were tragically killed in 2018 and 2019 respectively. He also reflects on his past and the three years that he spent in jail.
The song is cathartic, as he analyses his impact on drill and the effect that this lifestyle has had on his mental health. He sounds more mature than he did in previous years, but still reminds us that he’s “the same man that made drill rap relevant”.
He revolutionised the genre by using multi-syllabic rhymes, with words like ‘diligent’, as he provided us with a more well-rounded depiction of his lifestyle than that of his fellow drill compatriots.
“Blueprint” by Reekz MB, “Take It There” by 67 and “Look Like You” by 150, were three of the biggest drill tracks of yesteryear. These tracks placed more emphasis on the rawness of the lyrics, rather than complex rhyme structures that MizorMac later introduced.
He represented a new generation and brought a new energy along with him. His flow was quicker, he used repetition and rapped from a teenage perspective. There were lyrics about anime – “Draw for the sword like Shaman” on “Kennington Where It Started”. Lyrics about inexperience – “I felt dumb and clumsy / Let it off in my room, just over my bed” on “Harlem Realist”. And lyrics about the effect that living in different areas can have on relationships – “He was my friend from years / But he’s from there, soon he a victim” on “No Hook”.
The wave after MizorMac reaped the benefits of his groundwork, in terms of popularity and took elements from his formula. You can hear his influence in drill classics, like “Gentleman” by SL, “Ambush” by OFB and “Next Up Part 1” by 1011. SL used the phrase “custard darling”, a variation of “chocolate darling” popularised by MizorMac, as he similarly rapped about his everyday. OFB, another group of teenagers, used their own channel, like the Harlem Spartans, to showcase their rapid flows, use of repetition and rhyme schemes. And, Digga D used his cold flow to display an abundance of inner and multi-syllabic rhymes. Of course, all of these artists have their own styles and have themselves furthered the genre. However, MizorMac’s rise was a watershed moment.
His verses often left people commenting “MizorMac got an A* in English” on YouTube, but there is one that stands out above all others. His verse on the 2016 track, “War”, shows the extent of his skill. So, as Miz gave flowers to friends that he lost in the video for “Return of the Mac”, it’s only right that we do the same for him, while he can still smell them.
On “War” he raps:
“We grip toys like Woody and Buzz
Samurai swords and guns
I grew up in the Harlem slums
I’m trapped in the trap with packs and cats
I’m trapped in the trap with drugs
Now look how we’ve all become
Kennington, known veterans from young
Militant and diligent, get bun
Rebellious, you’re irrelevant, just run
I was grafting kway off the ends
I think the feds want me dead
Red laser dots on my chest
Telling me, keep my hands near my legs
The life I live is intense”
Mizormac uses inner rhyme to add intensity to his lyrics. The use of rhymes, like “militant and diligent”, allow him to quicken and change his flow. They are also multi-syllabic rhymes so this, coupled with the use of end rhyme adds complexity to his lyrics.
It creates a motif that the listener can predict, and once you’ve heard the song a few times, you’re able to rap the lyrics back fairly easily, thanks to this infectious style.
Next, what struck me about Miz’s verse, was the content of the lyrics:
“Samurai swords and guns
I grew up in the Harlem slums
I’m trapped in the trap with packs and cats
I’m trapped in the trap with drugs”
These four bars paint quite a bleak picture of his lifestyle. A life surrounded by weapons, poverty and drugs. However, the first line says “we grip toys like Woody and Buzz”, seeming to trivialise the situation.
Having said that, it actually does the opposite. People in MizorMac’s environment, go from gripping actual toys, hence the Toy Story reference, to gripping different types of toys, in the form of weapons.
“I think the feds want me dead
Red laser dots on my chest
Telling me, keep my hands near my legs
The life I live is intense”
The use of imagery like “red laser dots on my chest” and “keep my hands near my legs” help us to visualise what he’s describing. In addition, the conviction in his delivery makes it that bit more believable.
It seems as if he is going to move away from this type of content, if “Return of the Mac” is anything to go by. He’s also returned with a new cadence and flow. Nonetheless, verses like the one of “War” are the reason why he’s receiving so much love on his homecoming.