In a landscape flooded with autotuned heartbreaks and emo trap vibes, 53 Universe flips the script with their latest drop, GBK Cypher Vol 10. Instead of following the crowd, they flex their lyrical prowess and raw style through a boom bap cypher that hits different. We’ve seen local talents try to revive that '90s old-school hip-hop sound, but it often falls flat—full of empty boasts that are hard to believe. But 53 Universe's cypher? It’s a game-changer. From the beat to the bars to the visuals, this one’s got depth, and it’s not here to play.
The video kicks off in a dimly lit studio, setting a gritty, underground tone that runs through the whole piece. It’s dark, it’s raw, and yeah, it even feels a little illegal—but that’s the energy that makes it hit so hard. The music during the intro gives off that dark, underground vibe, preparing you for what’s to come. Then, we switch it up—moving from the shadowy studio to an outdoor shoot in a flat apartment cul-de-sac. The talents are posted up on the stairs, staring down at the camera, making you feel like you’re the one under pressure. The pre-drop music, with its bossa nova-inspired drums and basslines, adds a surprising contrast that vibes like the intro to “Hotline Bling.”
Raff en Cinnamon kicks off the cypher, laying the groundwork with clever wordplay and a flow so smooth it’s impossible not to nod along. His use of sibilance gives the track a sharpness that cuts through the softer kick drums and bass lines, adding layers to the beat.
Then, $KD steps in with a more straightforward rhyme scheme, but don’t get it twisted—it’s impactful. He keeps the momentum going until Ryb3na—who also produced the beat—takes over, subtly tweaking the rhyme scheme just before passing the mic to Hxmba.
Hxmba’s energy is electric, his higher pitch a perfect counter to Ryb3na’s lower tone. His lyrics hit hard, with lines like “rhyme scheme selamatkan rap scene” and “rapper taknak bercampur masing-masing berpuak,” capping off the cypher with a freestyle that brings it full circle, tying back to the gritty intro.
This track is a breath of fresh air in the Malaysian hip-hop scene. The bars? On point. The video? A nostalgic nod to early Malaysian hip-hop with a modern twist. If you’re into underground hip-hop that stays true to the roots while pushing boundaries, *GBK Cypher Vol 10* is definitely worth a listen.
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