SURF & TURF ALBUM REVIEW
A review of Durkalini and Surf Gang's joint project Surf & Turf
Written by: Martin Sakansong
Edited by: Amari Newman
9/2/2024
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Last month, Durkalini and Surf Gang delivered their collaborative mixtape Church & Surf. The Alabama emcee and NYC producers gave us one of the most underrated (and best) projects of the summer.
In his first and only interview (w/ SleepWalker) last June, Durkalini explained:
“My social media might not show it, but I feel like I’m the biggest thing in the underground. I'm saying this today, nobody can fuck with me right now.”
And that's exactly how he carried himself on Church & Surf. The music speaks for itself.
According to Durakalini, the joint project was supposed to drop in March, but Surf Gang delayed the release to build up hype. He signed a tape deal with the collective-turned-label last year. Evilgiane made the initial connection with Durkalini via Instagram.
After a studio session in Brooklyn, Evilgiane and his manager decided to bring The Pyro Pillionare out to LA to record with the rest of Surf Gang’s core producers Harrison, Eera, Goner, and affiliates Nick Leon, dasia, and Graham Perez. They narrowed down the 25 tracks recorded during Durkalini's visit to the 10 featured on the album.
“I aint bragging, but I know these rap niggas in trouble cause don't nobody fuck with me but producers. Only rappers I really rapped with that's known are Rx Papi and Yhapojj.”
-Durkalini [SleepWalker Interview, 2024]
My biggest takeaway from Church & Surf is Durkalini's control over each beat. His voice and flow are already distinct, but the peculiar way Lini switches up his tone and pitch throughout his verses is really different. His expertise in switching registers is reminiscent of a prime Young Thug.
Tracks like “ALLIGATOR,” “OBJECTION,” and “GUINNESS,” are perfect examples of this. He even drops a verse in spanish on “GREENCARD.” In regard to lyrical content, Durkalini stresses that he's very much outside, not off some street shit, just living life to the fullest.
“I'm on the corner, but I can't give you no directions, I'm kickin left and right, sometimes I feel like Lionel Messi...The way I’m fucking living, one mistake I’ll be diminished. Imma break a fucking record, the most bitches in the Guinness."
-GUINNESS [Track 9]
Durkalini's approach to social media and promo may be his most unique quality. For the last 2 years, he's posted a snippet from new or unreleased songs every day. And yes I mean everyday (check his IG right now).
This project adds even more fuel to a year-long hot streak from Alabama’s most based artist, and Pyro The Pastor shows no signs of cooling down. #church #pyro.