- Napolian is Ian Christian Evans, a young, internet-obsessed beatmaker with enough production chops to make a dent in the mainstream. Loosely operating in the instrumental hip-hop realm, the 21-year-old artist has already contributed to several major releases. He's listed as a producer on A$AP Ferg's Trap Lord, and Bok Bok reprised one of his beats for Kelela's breakthrough mixtape, CUT 4 ME. On Incursio, his debut full-length, Evans sheds the G-funk nostalgia of his past efforts, opting instead for trap-rap production, rave presets and sinister ambience. If that sounds like a lot to take in, it is.
Incursio begins with a set of futuristic beach funk that might emanate from a car stereo in Grand Theft Auto—that is, if the game were set in 2050. Nearing the record's midpoint, Evans drops into a suite that could soundtrack a crime noire—"Principalities" sounds like a cross between Fatima Al Qadiri's orientalist minimalism and the soundtrack to a Reagan-era action film. Evans makes happy music as well. "1 Peter 1:3-4" is a buoyant musical reaction to the biblical promise of eternal life. The song's playful synth lead becomes distant and euphoric in the track's outro, its hip-hop beat replaced by gauzy ambience.
Late in the album, Evans hunkers down and presents epic, club-influenced sounds. "Escobar"'s rhythm travels from half-time hip-hop to house, eventually settling into a mutant amen-break. The album's title track uses an ominous synth lead, dancehall beat and pitch-bent pianos; the end result balances Evans' interest in contemplative film music and radio-rap bangers.
No one will come away from Incursio unsure of Evans' skills. He's a computer production virtuoso. To call the record "instrumental hip-hop" is reductive, yet it shares something fundamental with beat-tape forefathers DJ Shadow and Prefuse 73: Evans is easily distracted. Ironically, his A.D.D. tendencies place the burden of interpretation on a patient, knowledgeable listener.
Tracklist01. Is It Love
02. W (Dub)
03. I'm Yours
04. Reminisce
05. INTernal
06. Principalities feat. Garfield
07. THERM.G feat. Dro Carey
08. L O B B Y
09. 1 Peter 1:3-4
10. Escobar feat. Dezo
11. Peace & Safety Αἰφνίδιος Ολεθρος
12. DARPA
13. Ἰησοῦς
14. Seal VI (Bonus Track)