Moka Only exists somewhere between the snow sports rap Western Canada is famous for and an overly chilled-out version of the mighty Mos Def’s “Boogie Man.” 
With 41 solo albums (23 since 2007), this prolific MC churns out original verses and production credits at a rate that would make even the most ambitious mixtape rappers shudder. As a way to welcome spring to the nasty Northwest, the Vancouver-based MC began to churn out the Airport albums in 2007. Initially, the projects were inspired by photos he took at airports bouncing around on tour. During the half-hour not-so-electric relaxation heist that is Airport 5, Moka Only sticks to his guns. That is, as he puts it in the album’s single, “How you get people listening.”
The fifth installment in Moka’s Airport series of albums is high-flying doze-off rap.
If only in-flight turbulence and the crying babies hummed so gently. On the single,“Grab Grab Grab,” Moka proclaims that his “Flow is never drab/ If you know about vocab,” while making a whisper of a call-to-dope-rap-action. On “I Do” he stresses his productivity, while also underscores this release’s flaw, “Do a song every night/ More than a pile of words.” His words, aren’t quite piles, but they certainly don’t serve a purpose as prose.
Beats along the release’s runway boast an assortment of spacey samples, brass jaunts, ivory riffs and almost invisible guitar plucks in a grainy, under-mastered casing. The album’s best song, “Brand Nu Shine” even includes a pencil-to-paper jotting loop. Rapping about rapping doesn’t always have to sound so dull and this track, featuring Souls of Mischief’s Opio, proves that. Moka even comes candid in his verse, “Man I get paid for being all kinda weird/ But if the Chuck Taylor fits…”
Moka maintains a smooth tone and calm demeanor throughout this 30-minute stopover of an album, aside from “ROCK ON!” and “Long Range.” Here he takes a few passive stabs towards his contemporaries. As little as these tracks differ in the DNA of the dozen, the pace change is almost jarring when the ride is so short. If Moka is already eight songs down the “listening to crickets” path, he should stick to the peddle-in-the-barrel guns.
Airport 5 is easy listening Hip-Hop. It’s soft rap. At times it edges on becoming elevator rap and at other times it’s almost profound in its simplicity. In the end, you’re back before you realize you left. It’s more of a brief blip on the radar than any extended experience. Just try not to fall asleep on the way.
vancity! w w word
To each his own.
grab grab grab? wtf is this? is he serious?
This aint bad
Good, but nothing special
I like it.
Reminds me of Funkdoobiest. And we all know how far his rap career went. I like the beat but that’s about it.
Fuck this review. Moka is epic. Learn some respect.
I’m biased to Moke. He is the man.
This dude been so lame for the last decade. That Blue album was the last meaningful shit. Rather listen to Common…
Much as I like HipHopDX, this review is total bollocks! Moka Only is putting out TONS of hot beats, ‘Skronk’ for one is awesome and reminiscent of Doom’s chillest ’70s vibe beats. Other tracks bring memories of ATCQ, Oddisee, Panacea, Madlib, etc Def one of the hottest LP’s I got this year, alongside Shaolin vs Wutang and the Elmatic mixtape.
…but Grab Grab Grab is the worst song on the album.
So until last week I never heard of dude. I downloaded Airport 3 and that album is amazing. Damn near every song is a hit very chill album. So to me Moka is legit my new favorite producer. Haven’t heard Airport 5 yet but on the strength of 3 I’m giving it a blind 5. And yes grab grab is wack at the same time fun. Listen to the other tracks on youtube their pretty dope.
Why doesn’t Mr. Tibbs BUY something?
WTF? Is this reviewer insane? Madlib himself would KILL for some of the beats and Moka has a wicked flow. Skronk, Long Range and Welcom Aboard are bananas!!
rating 5 stars
Crazy review, this album is D O P E! @Alex Dwyer, did you actually listen to his or just fast forward through ten seconds of each track? Stop licking Rawse’s bawls and appreciate some tru hip hop flow.
good ish as always////
the reviewer really has no idea about hiphop