Album Review: 509

509 is the new album from Auckland Hip-Hop crew The Doqument. Consisting of $ikeOne (MC), IMAG€ (MC), and Shaqles (Producer/MC), the three-part team have been turning heads for both their solo and group outputs, and between them have performed alongside Bone Thugs n Harmony, KRS One and Mobb Deep, jointly collaborated with bona fide rappers such as David Dallas and PNC and already released two albums: The Rookie Album and Blank Canvas: Wall & Piece. The later being nominated for ‘Best Urban/Hip-Hop Album’ at the Vodafone New Zealand music awards 2015.

The Doqument produce and master their own music, alongside filming and editing their own music videos. Which when you hear the quality production value of 509 is a testament to their many music related skills.

One of the first thing I noticed on listening to the album was how huge the beats sounded. I also thought the MC’s had really good voices. The lyrics on first listen seemed a bit uninspired but the flow was locked in and sounding great.

The album has 10 songs and runs for  37 minutes. The instrumentation is classic boom bap but the MC’s bring a very modern flavour with their rhythmic approach.

I thought that this offering was a step up from most of the local Hip-Hop music that I hear and I have been watching The Doqument gaining fans and support from taste makers in the local Auckland Hip-Hop scene. This is an album that will sound huge on a speaker system with subs and one that I recommend you check out If you’re a Hip-Hop fan.