Cleveland’s own Charlie Malta, better known as Guice Mann, is back with RECLINER, a sprawling new project that blends surreal storytelling, offbeat humor, and a kaleidoscope of beats. Known primarily as a visual artist, Guice has been quietly building a catalog of underground rap experiments since ninth grade, drawing on inspirations as far-ranging as MF Doom, Beastie Boys, Wu Tang Clan, and King Gizzard. After his 28-track comeback album Fries And A Salad dropped in 2024 following a decade-long hiatus, RECLINER finds him doubling down on his fresh, geometric, “squeezed juice” style, part playful, part political, and always unapologetically weird.
In the opener, “111 WAKE UP! (Prod. by Unknown Phrazes),” his voice echoes into a space, questioning reality, until a mysterious entity named Sir introduces himself as the “host” of the album. It’s like stepping into Guice’s own sci-fi headspace. Then the second track, “Recliner Intro,” settles into something more grounded. Here, Guice raps in a loose, storytelling flow over slow thumping beats and glistening synths, which allows listeners to “have a seat in this recliner” while dropping lines about vegan burritos, political clowns, and neon rainbows, spinning everyday randomness into hip-hop poetry.
Later, “Vibe With You (Prod. by Unknown Phrazes)” brings a catchy, laid-back groove. His flow is tight, the beats are breezy, and the lyrics juggle love notes, self-reflection, and Dragon Ball Z shoutouts, all while intimate and tongue-in-cheek. By track 23, “HAUDOKEN (Prod. by JRAD),” the mood shifts into weary spoken word. Over warm guitars and ambient textures, Guice vents about politics, depression, and survival with raw honesty and weaves cultural references into a confessional stream of thought.
All told, RECLINER is a creative concept work that blooms in from another dimension, experiencing visions from Guice Mann’s living room recliner. Find all the songs on YouTube.
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Review by: Naomi Joan