This is the 7th EP from New York emcee/producer Bishop Nehru. Starting off by dropping a couple beat tapes before going underground from the solid debut mixtape Nehrubia, his profile would only begin to rise in 2014 by signing to Mass Appeal Records and forming the duo NehruvianDOOM alongside the late MF DOOM and releasing an overlooked self-titled effort together that fall. Bishy would leave Mass Appeal a few years later to drop 2 full Elevators & My neglected thoughts on his own, both of which I consider some of the best shit he's ever done. He would also release 6 EPs and 5 more mixtapes but quit the Mysteries of Initiation EP last fall, Nehru begins the Cult Life series of going From the pain in the paintings.
“Rise” is a cavernous snare that talks about the inability to focus on healing and the transition from hero to villain, while “Through It All” shifts into heavy boom-bam territory to let everyone hear what's this gift he has. . “Hold It Down” works on more kicks and snares promising the world when it turns, but then “Keep It a Bean” soulfully shows the difference between real and fake.
The continuation of “Abandoned” which starts the 2nd half is amazing since it was my favorite Heroin addiction go for a Flying Lotus kind of vibe while “Forever” ties in a vocal twist and hi-hats that speak well of life. “Devil in New York” returns to boom bap detailing his encounters with Satan in his neck of the woods, that is until the cloudy “Fears” concludes the EP by confronting all that he fears.
Regardless Asshole or more recently 4 the Noners from a few weeks ago were recent examples of how successful or lousy Nehru's discography has become over time, From the pain in the paintings is a solid principle for the Cult Life series & I am curious to hear the future installments. Dioni$ gets a chance to show off his influences as a producer and Bishy delves into more personal matter.
Rating: 7/10
