Dublin-based collective Bricknasty return with their mixtape Xongz. Their debut EP, 2023’s Ina Crueler was an introspective affair that garnered rave reviews. Xongz, however, is more so a documenting of the band’s personal struggles over the course of its nine tracks.

The group’s signature sound – blending 2000s R&B, jazz-rap and street poetry – has earned them plaudits and a residency at the Sugar Club in the time since we tipped them as ones to watch. Led by vocalist and guitarist, Ballymun native Fatboy, the band set themselves apart from their peers via their unparalleled musical interplay (thanks also to Dara Abdurahman (bass), Korey Thomas (drums), Louis Younge (sax/keys) and producer Cillian McCauley) and striking visual elements, owing as much to that weird side of TikTok as they do André 3000.

Kicking off with the bouncy ‘Boyfriend’, the band blend staccato funk riffs with soulful horns and vocals and expertly timed stops. This gives way to lead single ‘Mouthy’, which calls to mind late ‘90s UK garage, with it’s sampled acoustic guitar arpeggios, chopped and screwed emceeing and syrupy falsettos. It’s a style similarly employed on ‘Joyrider’. While these are hardly new sounds, the Ballymun crew keep it fresh, incorporating psychedelic soundscapes to the mix.

There is a newfound sense of intimacy to be heard on Xongz, too. While ‘Mouthy’, very much a hype track, incorporates live samples doing just that, the unnamed follow-up track stylised in Amharic but meaning Ugly in English captures a tender moment, with Fatboy giving thanks to his Sugar Club audience for helping him to avoid homelessness and provide his mother with life-saving surgery. ‘Joyrider’, similarly, pays homage to their friend and photographer Ross McDonnell who tragically died in New York City.

Meanwhile, ‘Alone For This’, relies purely on it’s music to get it’s point across – vulnerable harmonies set against spiralling saxophone and stark acoustic guitars while Fatboy laments his need to face his woes alone.

Underlying the hard times are defiance, determination and gratitude however. ‘Gas’ is a new jack swing flavoured turn-up track that wouldn’t sound out of place on Justified-era Timberlake, with a delightful jam style outro. ‘Vinland’, on the other hand, offers mid-tempo funk and an irresistible shout-along hook (“everytime I touch it, it breaks!”). While ‘Pebbles’ caps the album off in delightful fashion, injecting some trace elements of sunshine pop.

Pressure makes diamonds and make no mistake, Bricknasty’s Xongz is a gem.