As I have mentioned a few times in the last several weeks on this blog, the Milwaukee Hip Hop scene has been vastly expanding over the last few years. Although Drill music is still one of the main cores of the Hip Hop game in Milwaukee, there have been quite a few artists branching out and trying new sounds that one may not expect to come from the city. Kenny Morningstar is an artist from Milwaukee(who now lives in Chicago) who wants to push the boundaries and make music that stands out among the other up-and-coming artists in the area. He is such an eclectic artist that can do anything and seemingly has no limits when it comes to Hip Hop music. He is super experimental and is the kind of artist that is unpredictable in the best way. One can never know what to expect from him, which is one of the things that makes him so riveting. Kenny Morningstar got his career started in 2019 when he released his debut single ‘I AIN’T SCARED NOMO.’ After dropping another single called ‘Olympiads’ early in the years, Kenny Morningstar put out his debut EP, Fighting Evil By Moonlight, In the summer of 2020. After dropping a plethora of singles between the autumn of 2020 and the fall of 2022, Kenny Morninstar released his second project, INFERNO, in November of 2022. Kenny Morninstar is continuing to stay prolific in his output, as he is already back with a new EP called Purgatorio. Here is how I feel about that project. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs are on Kenny Morningstar’s Purgatorio and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole.
Kenny Morningstar gets Purgatorio started on an extremely Trippy note with the song ‘open the gates.’ This song has a sound that transports me to an alternate reality when I listen to it. The melody sounds like it is being provided by a carousel with a tune that is extremely distorted; it is like what I imagine a merry-go-round would sound like while on acid. At times it sounds soothing, and at other times it has an anxious element. The beat for this song is slow and deliberate, making the melody feel more prominent. Kenny Morningstar raps with a brash and in-your-face style that reminds me a lot of Jay Rock when I hear it. His rapping style on this track feeds into the anxious feeling the instrumental has. On ‘open the gates,’ Kenny Morningstar is rapping about how he is good with who he has become and knows that he is destined for greatness. ‘love star(be mine)’ is another song with a very alternative and otherworldly feeling to it. This song is driven by a 70s-style Funky guitar riff that is extremely distorted. This tune provided by the guitar riff is somehow ominous and romantic sounding at the same time. This melody is put over a slow and choppy Trap beat that feels a bit off-kilter in its own right. Similar to the song that precedes it, Kenny Morningstar raps with a brazen and grating style(similar to Jay Rock) that goes nicely with the harsh sound of the instrumental. On ‘love star(be mine),’ is rapping about taking his girl back to the scary hoods that he grew up in. I think it is interesting how this is technically supposed to be a sweet love song but still has a menacing undertone. ‘doo-hickey’ is a song that tones down the apprehensive and jarring feeling the first two songs had. This is another highly distorted and psychedelic smooth Trap track, but it is a lot calmer and sweeter sounding than the two tracks that precede it. The song is driven by a melody provided by what sounds like a sample of a 50s Pop tune(I do not recognize the actual song, unfortunately) that is put over a calm old-school beat. If someone were to tell me this instrumental was from some underground mixtape from the 1990s or early 2000s, I would probably believe them because it does not sound new at all. This retro sound makes the song very fresh. Kenny Morninstar’s performance is a lot more subdued than it is in the first couple of songs. His lazy and even-keeled demeanor matches the instrumental well. I love how the sound of this song and its lyrics contrast each other so much. ‘doo-hickey’ is about some of Kenny’s most crazy drug experiences as well as some of his wildest memories of trapping on the north side of Milwaukee. The song even ends with what sounds like a shoot-out in the streets. ‘yacht club’ is another song with a decidedly underground and old-school feeling to it. This song is driven by a Funky and distorted classic-sounding R&B melody that is very soothing and pleasant; it has such a peaceful and innocent feeling to it. I love all the other atmospheric-sounding synths and sound effects that make the melody so full. Similar to the previous song, ‘yacht club’ has a low-key beat that has a sound that takes me back to the independent Hip Hop that was being made at the turn of the century. Specifically, it makes me think of artists like Atmosphere or Aesop Rock. Kenny Morningstar goes with a leisurely and steady delivery that meshes nicely with the instrumental. On ‘yacht club,’ Kenny Morningstar is rapping about partying the night away and seducing a girl that he has grown fond of.
The hallucinatory and tranquil feeling that the last couple of songs had continues with the song ‘smashley smizzdale.’ This track is driven by a 90s-style Boom-Bap beat and a Jazzy piano riff. This is probably the most simple song on the project so far. This song does not have some of the otherworldly and strange sound effects that the other tracks have; with that being said, this piano riff is so intoxicating and lulling that it has the same kind of psychedelic effect possessed by the first four tracks. Kenny Morningstar raps with a little bit of emphasis and force on this track; his delivery provides a nice juxtaposition from the instrumental. On ‘smashley smizzdale,’ Kenny Morningstar is rapping about how he needs to be high to feel sane in this world. ‘dustbunnies’ has a bit more of an intense and foreboding feeling than the rest of the record to this point. Even though it has a soft and subdued beat compared to some of the other songs, it still feels more forceful and mean than those tracks. This is probably because of the melody, which has a meaner tone than any of the other songs to this point. The melody does still have some distortion and sound effects that give it a hypnotic element, but overall this track is not nearly as inviting as what we have heard on the project before this. Kenny Morningstar’s delivery on this track is equally as bold as the instrumental, giving the song an all-encompassing feeling. On ‘dustbunnies,’ Kenny Morningstar is rapping about his past struggles and how he believes he can make it big and change his fortune. Kenny Morningstar rounds out this project with the song ‘spit on me.’ This track has such a triumphant and climactic feeling to it. The song is driven by a melody provided by synths that sound like a joyous horn section, and a 90s-style Boom-Bap beat that has such a nostalgic sound. Similar to ‘smashley smizzdale,’ this track has an uncomplicated instrumental. Instead of containing weird and strange sound effects that make the song sound like it came from a different reality, this track solely relies on its sweet instrumental and laid-back beat. Kenny Morningstar raps with a brazen quality that contrasts the instrumental. I like how his delivery feels so fierce when compared to the instrumental, as it gives the song life. On ‘ spit on me,’ Kenny Morningstar is rapping about how he knows what he wants and how to get it and how he does not feel bad for those around him that are still struggling. This is a powerful and poignant way to end the record which I think is very cool and interesting.
Kenny Morningstar has a style of music and delivery that is so different than anyone else from Milwaukee making Hip Hop. If you are used to or expect music from Milwaukee rappers to either have a Drill sound or a Melodic Trap sound, Kenny Morningstar’s music is a breath of fresh air. On Purgatorio, Kenny Morningstar shows that he has an affinity and admiration for classic Hip Hop music. He demonstrates that he can excel at 90s-style Hip Hop music with a psychedelic feeling that stands out so much among Hip Hop music being made today. There are not a lot of current Hip Hop artists to compare him to, which makes his music pop so much more. Kenny Morningstar demonstrates excellence as a lyricist and a master of flow on this project, showing how versatile and interesting an artist he can be. Purgatorio is a great project, and it makes me excited to continue to pay attention to Kenny Morningstar in the future.
EAST SIDE VIBES 