Released on November 7th, 2025, Smoke & Sex arrives as the second chapter of Switch the MC’s ambitious Comme Moi trilogy, carving out a sensual, introspective, and rhythmically rich space within the current rap, hip-hop, and trap landscape. Where the previous installment explored themes of contained rage, this new EP shifts toward something more intimate and atmospheric, leaning into the tensions between seduction and vulnerability. Crafted in collaboration with Nigerian and Beninese producers, the project embraces vibrant Afrobeat rhythms, textured synth work, and an emotional palette that feels both personal and globally resonant. It is a high-quality release that we are pleased to feature on our webzine with this review.
From the opening bars, Smoke & Sex establishes a sonic setting driven by hypnotic percussion and fluid rhythmic layering. The EP draws from Afrobeat’s polyrhythmic foundations but filters them through a rap-centric framework, allowing each track to pulse with forward motion while retaining a sense of spaciousness. This rhythmic duality is one of the project’s most striking elements: snares snap with trap-like precision, low-end kicks echo with club-ready weight, and shakers weave in subtly syncopated patterns that add warmth and organic movement. Switch employs these rhythmic structures not just as backdrops but as emotional engines, aligning his flow with the groove’s ebb and flow in ways that heighten the EP’s introspective energy.
The synth design throughout the EP contributes significantly to its late-night atmosphere. Pads drift in hazy, sensual tones, often emerging like smoke through the mix, while lead synths glide with a melodic minimalism that never distracts from the vocal delivery. Rather than crowding the arrangements, the synth elements provide thematic cohesion: they are smooth, slow-burning, and slightly detached, mirroring the project’s exploration of intimacy, confrontation, and fleeting emotional states. Subtle pitch bends, airy reverb tails, and understated melodic motifs reinforce the EP’s overall mood—sensual but never overly polished, introspective without losing rhythmic vitality.
Lyrically, Switch navigates personal relationships and romantic tension with sharp attention to emotional nuance. His writing oscillates between tenderness and assertiveness, positioning affection and conflict as parallel forces rather than opposites. The interplay between English and French adds another layer of texture, reflecting his transnational background and reinforcing the dualities at the heart of the EP. The bars feel carefully measured, balancing vulnerability with the punchlines and technical precision characteristic of both British grime and French rap—two influences deeply rooted in Switch’s artistic DNA.
Vocally, Switch moves with fluidity across the production. At times his delivery is smooth and seductive, riding the beat with a melodic cadence; at others, it sharpens into clipped rhythmic patterns reminiscent of grime’s fast-paced intensity. This dynamic control underscores his versatility and aligns with the trilogy’s conceptual aim: to present different facets of his artistic identity across distinct emotional chapters.
Part of what gives Smoke & Sex its resonance is Switch’s ability to integrate his cultural heritage into a contemporary rap framework. Born in Benin and raised between France and the UK, he embodies a generation of artists who merge geographical influences into cohesive, forward-thinking soundscapes. Afro-percussion, organic samples, and rhythmic motifs drawn from African musical traditions surface throughout the EP, adding depth and grounding the project in a rich cultural lineage. These sonic elements complement his lyricism, transforming the EP into a celebration of identity as much as an exploration of romance and desire.
As the Comme Moi trilogy progresses toward its next installments, Stretch (May 29th, 2025) and Time To Me (June 26th, 2025), Smoke & Sex stands as a compelling middle chapter—danceable yet reflective, rhythmically vibrant yet emotionally intimate. Through its intricate beatwork, evocative synth atmosphere, and candid lyrical direction, the EP reveals a confident artist expanding his expressive range while solidifying his role in a globally connected rap landscape.