2018 saw the rise of up and coming rapper and singer Ahmed Mohsin, better known by his stage name, ‘The Medic.’ Through the release of the popular single ‘Drown My Feelings,’ and his official debut project, ‘Watching Me’, which was a compilation of the many songs he had released throughout the year, Moshin was able to amass thousands of streams, which saw him reach new heights in his early music career.  The start of 2019 saw the young and versatile Canadian rapper return with the release of his EP, ‘Breakdowns & Breakthroughs.’ Did the EP live up to expectations, and continue The Medic’s ascension to success? 

Breakdowns & Breakthroughs is a clear step forward from anything The Medic has injected into his discography. With major improvements in production and mixing, Mohsin has expanded his craft, with the inclusion of a R&B influenced style, and the occasional use of auto-tune, which does nothing but improve the overall sound of the project. This is seen on tracks such as ‘On the Map,’ which is an energetic song for the contemporary gym playlist, and the mellow ‘Save Myself,’ which recalls his distant relationship with a girl. 

The EP is broken up into two distinct and underlying themes, which are exemplified in the title of the project, ‘Breakdowns & Breakthroughs.’ The Breakdowns portion of the project shows a fragile and vulnerable side of Mohsin, while in the Breakthroughs portion, he expresses a more confident side of himself. Through this side of The Medic, we see songs such as ‘Pay the Price,’ and ‘Loud Pack Interlude,’ which bring seemingly endless energy and confidence, through his braggadocious verses and witty punchlines over hard hitting beats. We’ve seen this side of Mohsin a lot through his previous projects, and it’s a style that he seems to do so effortlessly. 

Throughout the EP, Mohsin continues to entertain with his energy and talent. Whether it is his clever punchlines, or deep introspective verses, The Medic always keeps you wondering what he’s going to say and the stories he is going to tell. The project ends with ‘Lay Awake,’ and ‘All to You,’ marking two of the most introspective and sonically pleasing tracks on the 24 minute EP. ‘Lay Awake’ focusses on the topic of Mohsin’s depression, and the pressures and thoughts that come with his gain in success, allowing the listener to see another side of him that he doesn’t show often. ‘All to You’ finishes the project perfectly, continuing to delve into his personal thoughts. The second half of the track see’s beautiful vocals from Shalee, who marks the only feature on the EP, making for a strong finish to the project. 

Breakdowns & Breakthroughs is undoubtably The Medic’s best work yet, proving he is an artist to look out for in the coming years. The Medic has refined his style on this project with a variety of different tracks, which allow for a entertaining and enjoyable listen. 

8.2/10

Written by Sam Dehnert