New Music Review: Scrapyard

About Quadeca and Scrapyard:

Former youtube rapper, now alternative singer-songwriter and producer Quadeca recently released Scrapyard, his latest mixtape, on February 16th. Compiled from the Scrapyard 1-3 EP trilogy along with a mix of singles that come from as far back as early 2023, the larger, 15 track mixtape can only be described as a surprisingly beautiful project.

Acting as a dumping ground for songs that didn’t fit in with his 2022 album, I Didn’t Mean to Haunt you, and his next full length project, Scrapyard is full of emotion and life. If you’re looking for crisp, clean production, don’t listen to this mixtape as Quadeca has mastered the art of infusing an emotion to his beats with a human touch of chaos throughout the production. This may sound unappealing, but the actual music created is beautiful. On top of this are lyrics full of Quadeca’s own experiences and feelings that also seem to always coincide with his vocals. 

It must be said that with its nature as a mixtape, the coherence of the songs won’t be perfect, but I can ignore the small imperfections of the few misses and stay listening to the absolute hits that Scrapyard offers. Influenced by a melting pot of modern hip-hop, trap, electronic, emo, and alternative, Quadeca seems to mix genres seamlessly to express his emotions. The special part of this mixtape is all of the instrumental involvement that Quadeca added since his last project. From woodwinds to electric guitar and bass to orchestral strings, he only enhances his songs with more layers. 

“I put a lot more focus on getting really good instrumental performances” – Quadeca (in his most recet video)

Before you listen…

I hope that you would sit down and not just listen but immerse yourself. Be prepared to dance, cry, and hear well made music in the next hour.

Highlights:

• • Dustcutter: A perfect opening that establishes the chaotic yet moving production and the emotional lyrics found throughout the mixtape. Quadeca opens up about the feelings of betrayal that he feels after a rough breakup through an almost emo-alternative delivery. My favorite touch was the ghastly aspect of Qaudeca’s voice that fades into the deep bass.
  • A La Carte: It follows up the pain of Dustcutter with a more hip-hop related flow exploring the complexities of sexual relations. It features brakence, who delivers a fantastic flow that speeds up the already happier song, matching and meshing with  the energy of the song perfectly. My favorite part of this track is the complex bass line that acts as the heartbeat of both flows.
  • U don’t know me like that: On my favorite song of the mixtape, Quadeca explains how he feels empty from a relationship built on it’s sexual nature. Saying that his partner would never know who he really is and that the relationship was never real. His airy voice and soft piano match these emotions beautifully, but my favorite of the song is this synth crescendo and beat that just takes over the last bit of the song, representing the freedom he gets from letting this truth out.
  • Way too many friends: Quadeca, on top of one of the more clarified, hip hop beats of the album, reveals the difficulties of keeping up with all of his friends. He doesn’t want to fall into the normal pitfalls of fame, but it becomes increasingly harder to keep up with people as his plate fills up. My favorite part of this track is the woodwinds that come in on the back half of the song, making you feel the fleeting nature of these friendships.
  • U tried that thing where ur human: On the most emotional song of the mixtape, Quadeca, over a soft synth beat, expresses his need to become inhuman and escape the imperfections and emotions that come with it as he wallows over a failed relationship. Claiming in the end: “I’m gonna be something else” and fittingly ending the song with an almost galactic feeling mix of synth and woodwind. My favorite part of the song is the real sounds of Quadeca sobbing paired with the sadness in his voice, making you feel the weight of his pain.
  • Texas Blue: The final track embodies most of the emotional spectrum of the album as it explores the pain and the attempts to move on from a breakup. Quadeca, alongside a feature from Kevin Abstract, contrast the happy moments of the past relationship with the unexpected emptiness of the fallout. On top of a happy, yet fleeting sounding orchestra, the pair harmonize about not being enough for the former partner and the feelings of betrayal that it carries. My favorite part of this track has to be the evolution from a soft piano in the beginning to a couple strings to a grander orchestral background in the end.

Lowlights:

• Even if I tried: The more hip-hop oriented production and confident lyrics just don’t mesh with the overall theme of the greater project. It does remain a good song on its own.
• I make it look effortless: Similar to Even if I tried, it just doesn’t fit as was with the songs around it.
• Guess Who?: The worst song on the album, guess who is better placed in Quadeca’s earlier work as a pop-rapper looking for vitality. The cookie cutter lyrics and repetitive beat just don’t fit the maturity of the rest of the mixtape.
• Guide Dog: While the lack of production does open up Quadeca to express his raw emotion through his voice and lyrics, it really doesn’t shine in a mixtape so full of fantastic and expansive production.

Overall Score: 8.6

Final Thoughts:

Outside of the out of place hip hop songs, the album really displays the place that Quadeca has reached as he can put out a random collection of songs and eps that work well together. He achieves all of this while still producing heavily emotional and still fun to listen to songs. The chaotic nature of the production and the roller coaster style of loss and love displayed throughout truly make this mixtape feel like its namesake; Scrapyard. 

“If I had to listen to any of my albums in my car it would be this one(Scrapyard). Its really my most fun album.” – Quadeca (in his most recet video)

Something that people have said about Quadeca after his last full length album was how far he had come. Now it’s time to stop talking about his evolution and embrace the artistry that he is producing right now. I can only be excited for the next actually focused project Quadeca will give us.