B-Side Guys

Cities speak differently after dark. Brandonrxse’s “ALONE IN MILAN,” recorded during nocturnal sessions in Italy’s fashion capital, captures nine minutes of illuminating isolation. Released November 26, 2024, this three-track meditation on solitude proves that sometimes you have to leave home to find yourself.

“SWISS MONEY” opens the collection with the confidence of someone navigating foreign streets like they were born to them. The track’s title speaks to European luxury, but the lyrics dive deeper into questions of worth beyond wealth. It’s a perfect establishing shot for this cinematic journey through Milan’s midnight hours.

“HOLLYWOOD FOREVER” marks the EP’s emotional center, its title creating an intriguing tension with the project’s Italian setting. Here, Brandonrxse demonstrates the growth he’s shown since last year’s “Hard 2 Luv,” maintaining his commitment to honesty while expanding his sonic palette. The production shimmers like streetlights on wet cobblestones, creating an atmosphere both glamorous and slightly melancholic.

The EP closes with “TOO MUCH LEAN,” a track whose drowsy title belies its sharp observations. Like the best night walks in unfamiliar cities, it meanders purposefully toward revelation. The production here particularly shines, providing the perfect backdrop for Brandonrxse’s exploration of excess and emptiness.

What sets “ALONE IN MILAN” apart is its careful balance of place and displacement. While many artists might use an exotic location as mere backdrop, Brandonrxse allows Milan’s energy to infuse every aspect of these recordings. Each track feels both site-specific and universally relatable, capturing that unique mixture of freedom and isolation that comes from being alone in a foreign city.

The EP’s brevity works in its favor, creating a concentrated dose of nocturnal atmosphere that leaves listeners wanting more. The sequencing creates a natural arc, following Brandonrxse’s journey from initial exploration through reflection to eventual revelation.

Having lost a hard drive containing over 1000 songs in the past, Brandonrxse understands the importance of capturing moments rather than chasing perfection. This EP feels like a series of such captured moments, each track preserving the feeling of its creation while pointing toward future possibilities.

The production throughout maintains pristine clarity while allowing for moments of beautiful blur. Each track creates its own world while contributing to the larger narrative, much like different neighborhoods in the same city.

For fans of introspective hip-hop that values atmosphere as much as bars, “ALONE IN MILAN” is essential listening. Whether working with DJs or exploring foreign cities, Brandonrxse continues to evolve while maintaining his commitment to authentic expression.

As Brandonrxse’s first project of 2024, “ALONE IN MILAN” suggests exciting possibilities ahead. Like Milan itself, it combines old-world sophistication with contemporary edge, creating something that feels both timeless and thoroughly modern.

These nine minutes of nocturnal exploration remind us that sometimes the best company is no company at all. As cities evolve and scenes change, “ALONE IN MILAN” captures a moment when solitude and creativity combined to create something special in the city of style.