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**JOHNNASCUS - Identity Crisis**
★★★★☆

In the sprawling digital wasteland of SoundCloud rap, where mumbled verses and lo-fi beats reign supreme, few artists have managed to carve out a sonic territory as uncompromisingly bizarre as JOHNNASCUS. The enigmatic producer-rapper, whose real identity remains as murky as his distorted vocal delivery, emerged from the underground with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer through stained glass. His 2019 opus, *Identity Crisis*, stands as a testament to what happens when hip-hop collides head-first with industrial noise, trap sensibilities, and what sounds like the dying screams of a dial-up modem.

Before *Identity Crisis* dropped, JOHNNASCUS had already established himself as something of a cult figure in the darker corners of the internet rap scene. His earlier releases hinted at an artist unafraid to push boundaries, blending aggressive trap production with elements that seemed borrowed from horror film soundtracks and experimental noise projects. The anticipation surrounding this album wasn't the typical major-label hype machine – instead, it was the kind of word-of-mouth buzz that spreads through Discord servers and niche music forums, whispered between fans who collect vinyl releases limited to 100 copies.

Musically, *Identity Crisis* defies easy categorisation, though "industrial trap" comes closest to capturing its essence. JOHNNASCUS constructs his beats like a mad scientist assembling Frankenstein's monster – 808s that hit like artillery shells, synth lines that screech and wail like banshees, and percussion that sounds like it was recorded inside a collapsing factory. His vocal approach is equally unorthodox, ranging from barely intelligible mumbles to full-throated roars, often processed through enough distortion to make Death Grips sound like easy listening.

The album's standout tracks reveal an artist with a genuine understanding of dynamics and tension. "DEATH OBSESSED" opens with an almost ambient drone before exploding into a barrage of crushing drums and nightmarish synths, while JOHNNASCUS delivers lyrics about mortality and mental anguish with the intensity of a street preacher on amphetamines. "PSYCHO" lives up to its title, building from whispered confessions to a climactic breakdown that sounds like a panic attack set to music. The production here is particularly inspired, with layers of sound that seem to shift and breathe like living organisms.

"NIGHTMARE" represents perhaps the album's most accessible moment – and that's saying something. The track maintains the project's signature abrasiveness while incorporating melodic elements that wouldn't sound entirely out of place on a more conventional rap album. It's a masterclass in controlled chaos, demonstrating that beneath all the sonic extremity lies genuine songcraft. Meanwhile, "VOICES" pushes in the opposite direction, embracing pure noise terrorism with samples that sound like they were lifted from a David Lynch fever dream.

The album's title proves prophetic – this is music that exists in a constant state of identity flux. One moment, JOHNNASCUS sounds like he's channeling the ghost of early Three 6 Mafia; the next, he's diving headfirst into territories that would make Merzbow proud. It's this refusal to stay in one lane that makes *Identity Crisis* both fascinating and occasionally exhausting. Some tracks feel like brilliant experiments, while others seem to prioritise shock value over substance.

What's remarkable about *Identity Crisis* is how it manages to feel both deeply personal and utterly alien. JOHNNASCUS mines his own psychological turmoil for lyrical content, but presents it through such a distorted lens that it becomes universal – or at least relatable to anyone who's ever felt like they're losing their grip on reality. The production mirrors this internal chaos, creating an sonic environment that's simultaneously claustrophobic and vast.

In the years since its release, *Identity Crisis* has achieved something approaching legendary status within its niche. While it never troubled the mainstream charts, it's become essential listening for anyone interested in the outer limits of contemporary hip-hop. JOHNNASCUS has continued to release material that pushes boundaries, but many fans still consider this his defining statement – a 40-minute descent into madness that somehow emerges as art.

*Identity Crisis* isn't for everyone, and JOHNNASCUS wouldn't have it any other way. This is music for 3am listening sessions, for moments when conventional rap feels too safe, too predictable. It's an album that demands to be