You’d have to have an extreme level of self-confidence to name your EP Void Where Inhibited. It sounds less like a rap title and more like the sentence at the bottom of a contract that you were absolutely supposed to read before signing. Which in fairness, makes it a pretty good name for a project about refusing limitations.
In the span of seven tracks, Black Silver manages to turn the phrase into a solid, surprisingly conceptual collection of tracks devoted to self-discipline, independence, robustness, and increasingly – the notion of actually having something to say. With Black Silver on the mic as Emcee, HardMoney handling production, and J Flat behind the engineering, Void Where Inhibited inhabits a sweet spot where underground hip-hop, dramatic soundscapes, clever lyrics, and socio-political observation can hang out together guilt-free.
The opening track, “W.O.L.F.” or “Win Or Learn From It” is a piece of motivational philosophy as blunt as they come. However, it works because it serves as a concept for the entire EP; if the failure you encounter teaches you something, it can hardly be labeled as failure at all.
“In A Nutshell” follows with a more condensed approach, and its reported rotation on Shade 45 gives the track an audience beyond the usual independent-rap ecosystem. It also establishes something important about Black Silver: he clearly trusts listeners to keep up.
Then comes “Fire and Ice,” introducing its own contrast of opposing forces, before the title track arrives at the EP’s midpoint. “Void Where Inhibited” feels appropriately positioned as the conceptual center, because the entire project seems interested in what happens when creative and personal restrictions are challenged rather than simply accepted.
“Fadeaway Shots” continues that theme through basketball imagery, using the idea of creating distance while maintaining precision. It’s an apt metaphor for an artist operating under pressure: sometimes the trick isn’t avoiding the defense, but learning how to shoot anyway.
The most confrontational moment comes with “Super Shady,” which takes aim at corruption within the music industry. It has reportedly generated reaction videos and online discussion, and it’s easy to understand why. Black Silver isn’t particularly interested in whispering his criticism into a pillow. He wants the room to hear it.
That directness is one of the EP’s biggest strengths. Modern hip-hop has no shortage of songs about making it, getting money, overcoming obstacles, and generally being very successful at being successful. Black Silver instead spends time interrogating the structures surrounding the artist. There is ambition here, but also suspicion-and frankly, suspicion can make for much more interesting rap.
“All Gas” closes the project with exactly the sort of forward momentum its title promises. After seven tracks concerned with pressure, identity, criticism, and perseverance, ending with continued movement makes sense.
The production deserves equal credit. HardMoney’s dark, futuristic sound gives Black Silver enough atmosphere to operate in without swallowing his writing, while J Flat’s engineering keeps everything polished and cohesive. The result doesn’t feel like seven tracks that happened to be released together. It feels constructed.
And that’s probably the most convincing thing about Void Where Inhibited. Black Silver isn’t trying to convince you that limitations don’t exist. He’s asking what happens when you stop treating them as permanent.
For an artist with decades of experience, that’s a surprisingly energetic proposition. The void, it turns out, is quite busy.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for various publications around the world, the former lead writer of review blogspace Atop The Treehouse and content creator for Manila Bulletin.
