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When Milwaukee artist, Cinco, reached out to me in hopes of premiering his new EP on Upcoming Hip Hop, I did not hesitate. Cinco has been putting on for Milwaukee for years but more recently has been helping foster the local hip-hop scene by throwing unique, dope events. He has also created a sound for himself with his past few projects. He is not one to follow trends or make music for anyone but himself. He is a true artist in the sense that he creates in many ways whether it be freestyle, producing, writing, playing an instrument, or a combination of all of it. I also respect that he perfects his tracks before he releases them to the public. I see too many artists make tracks and put them out before they are 100% finished. Dancing With My Demons is a 5 track EP that adds another stepping stone to Cinco's long music career. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the project so I could write this album review as well as premiere it.

Cinco starts off Dancing With My Demons with "Journey" (produced by M3 Productions which is comprised of Cinco, Diaz, and Ben Allen) and shows his diversity. He puts his struggles at the forefront of his lyrics and proves to his fans he can be vulnerable. He makes a statement by saying he is coming to take what rightfully his. He is on a journey. “Gotham” is next and Cinco teams up with CDS and Mozaic to create a dope, unique track produced by Mike Regal. This track features the future of Wisconsin hip-hop. CDS starts out by showcasing his ability singing and then moves into rapping. He sets the tone for the track, moves into the hook, and Cinco follows with a smooth verse. Cinco’s verse is packed with metaphors and stories which I am really feeling. Mozaic comes last and his flow is slow yet dope. "Gypsy Heart" (produced by Benjamin Allen) follows and it is my favorite from the EP. It might even be my favorite song Cinco has EVER released. This track has such a midwest hip-hop sound, I absolutely love it. Real lyrics over a calm beat. I often get caught up only listening to tracks that go "hard" or have "bars" but songs like this remind me why I fell in love with hip-hop. Something interesting I found listening to this track is that it doesn't seem forced. Cinco seems very comfortable rapping over this type of beat and about these stories.

The title track "Dancing With My Demons" comes next and it features two of his best friends; Abe Stewart on the hook and Diaz with the beat. Cinco really impressed me with his flow throughout this entire track. It must have been difficult to keep up with this space-like instrumental but he killed it. The confidence in Cinco's voice is a lot prevalent that it was on his first project, First and Last Impressions. It's great hearing artists progress over the years. "Crickets" (produced by Divine) is last and it's a great end to the project. It's packed with rhymes and real lyrics. Storytelling is one of Cinco's strong points when it comes to his music. Whether he is talking about a past experience or society in general, he always finds a new way to deliver it. Throughout the song, Cinco tells his fans that he won't stop making music even though the industry is corrupt. Another aspect of Cinco's music that I respect is his passion for using his music to change the world. You don't see this often in the rap world so it's always refreshing when you do.

Overall, Cinco did a really great job putting together a small collection of songs. You will be entertained for all seventeen minutes of Dancing With My Demons and be left with something to think about. This isn't an EP that you can digest after the first listen. It had me coming back for more and wanting to know every lyric because he does have something to say. He tells a story, talks about his future and past. I hope this is just a small preview of what is coming in 2016.

Connect with Cinco
Facebook.com/mustbecinco | Twitter.com/mustbecinco
Soundcloud.com/mustbecinco | Youtube.com/mustbecinco