Armand Hammer – We Buy Diabetic Test Strips

Released in September 2023, the enigmatic “We Buy Diabetic Test Strips” by Armand Hammer isn’t your typical hip hop album. It’s a swirling vortex of avant-garde beats, razor-sharp lyricism, and introspective storytelling that plunges into the depths of modern anxieties and social commentary. Imagine a grimy New York alleyway soundtracked by industrial thumps and jazzy flourishes, where ELUCID and billy woods trade verses like cryptic fortunes whispered in the shadows.

This isn’t music for casual listening. It demands your full attention, unraveling its layers like a detective story where every sample, every turn of phrase, holds a hidden meaning. The title itself, a stark metaphor for the commodification of healthcare, sets the tone for a journey through urban landscapes riddled with economic disparity and existential malaise.

JPEGMafia’s glitchy production on “Black Sunlight” crackles with nervous energy, mirroring the paranoia of navigating a world teetering on the brink. ELUCID’s verse, “Sipping seltzer laced with paranoia / Stockpiling canned goods in anticipation of armageddon,” paints a chilling picture of societal anxieties simmering beneath the surface.

But amidst the darkness, slivers of light flicker. Tracks like “Scotch Creek” morph into lush soundscapes, billy woods’s introspective musings blending with Preservation’s soulful horns and Sebb Bash’s melancholic piano. It’s a testament to Armand Hammer’s versatility, their ability to weave through darkness and light, dissonance and harmony, without ever losing their razor-sharp focus.