MOJA’s latest mixtape is another example of growth from the young, burgeoning artist. I Was Curious builds on what he showed us in his first EP, Earthquake, back in 2020. His second EP, Arboretum, released earlier this year with a lot of memorable melodies (“Houdini” and “Burberry Hotel” come to mind). I Was Curious is the most thematically cohesive project MOJA has released, and each track brings something unique to the table.
“Aureliana” is the intro to the project, and has a dream-like, surreal instrumental. It introduces us to one of the main themes: romance. I Was Curious has many songs with a woman at the center. The intro track focuses on a one-of-a-kind woman and ideas of uniqueness. It features some great flows and a catchy hook. The song ends with a smooth transition into a chopped-and-screwed clip of the song. This is a strong first track, and strikes a balance between mellow and upbeat.
“Door (Curiosity)” is different from the other tracks on the mixtape. It’s a more mellow, slow song, adding variation to the tracklist. It continues with the romance theme, but sonically, it is one of the best expressions of the abstract feeling of curiosity on the project. Later in the tracklist, we hear “Guatelinda,” which shows a more playful side of the record. It features one of several appearances by fellow Colmado Music Group artist, 1OAKJason. He contributes verses and appears on multiple skits throughout the tape. “Guatelinda” also continues a pattern consistently seen in MOJA’s discography: he always seems to seamlessly bring an international feel to each project. We consistently see French and Spanish influences, as well as nods to his native Jamaica. They help to distinguish MOJA and his sound in hip-hop.
MOJA’s new mixtape, I Was Curious, is different from the usual Hip-Hop sound. The instrumentals are unique, the melodies are catchy, and MOJA’s delivery strikes a perfect middle-ground between singing and traditional rap. It’s an interesting look into an artist who seems to grow with every project. I Was Curious can be found on all major streaming platforms, along with the rest of MOJA’s discography.
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