In an era where fleeting trends often eclipse enduring craft, Time & Space by P-Rawb & Big O lands like a meteor—an urgent yet timeless reminder of what hip-hop can achieve when it honors both its roots and future. Released on May 9, 2025, this five-track EP (complete with instrumental versions) isn’t just a sequel to their acclaimed debut The Complexity—it’s an evolution in form, function, and philosophy.
Four years after The Complexity united the gritty poetics of P-Rawb and the soulful precision of Big O, the duo has returned to deliver an ambitious new offering—equal parts reflection, resistance, and renaissance. Time & Space explores the fragile line between nostalgia and progression, fusing rich lyricism with genre-defying beats that demand both ears and introspection.
A Transatlantic Union Forged in Sound
Big O, the London-based American producer behind every sonic layer of the project, once again proves why he’s one of the most versatile craftsmen in today’s underground scene. His beats, never static, bend moods and motifs with the fluidity of jazz and the snap of golden-era boom bap. The engineering—helmed by Darryl Michael (recording) and Argiris “Argy W” Psylomesis (mixing/mastering)—is crisp and calculated, giving the EP a professional finish without sanding off its raw emotion.
As an executive producer, Big O guides Time & Space like a seasoned auteur, treating every track not as a backdrop for verses but as an ecosystem where rhythm, melody, and message coexist.
Meanwhile, P-Rawb, representing New Jersey and Philadelphia, rhymes like someone with lived miles behind each bar. This isn’t rap for the algorithm—it’s hip-hop for those who’ve walked through fire and came out writing scripture.
Track-by-Track Breakdown: Soul Meets Structure
‘Follow My Lead (Intro)’ opens like a portal, not a preview. Instead of a typical intro, we get a cinematic soundscape—moody, textured, and solemn. P-Rawb’s spoken-word approach builds atmosphere, drawing listeners into the conceptual vortex of time, memory, and self-possession. It’s less “track one” and more “act one.”
‘Rise To The Top’ is a revelation. Big O laces a gospel-soaked instrumental overlaid with glowing synths and sweeping choir elements, giving the track a spiritual edge. P-Rawb answers the call with precision, delivering verses that dance between struggle and triumph. It recalls the aspirational energy of Kanye West’s Late Registration mixed with the lyrical sharpness of Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80. You feel this one in your chest.
‘Hard Pressed’ leans into shadow. It’s atmospheric and introspective, stripped down to piano keys, thick bass, and minimal percussion. This is where P-Rawb’s pen cuts deep—he dissects stress, survival, and inner tension with poetic clarity. Like Blu or Mick Jenkins, he unearths beauty in the dirt, pulling truth from turmoil.
Then there’s the standout: ‘Power Within (Searchin’)’. Featuring the dexterous bars of Fashawn and the hypnotic hook of Adrienne Mack-Davis, this track is a masterclass in collaborative alchemy. Big O builds a lush sonic backdrop that swings between melancholy and momentum. Each verse is an affirmation, urging listeners to confront life’s chaos with courage. Mack-Davis’s vocals soar like a mantra, leaving an echo of resilience long after the song ends.
‘For The Gods’ closes the vocal portion of the EP with a bang. Featuring L.O.U., Rxlph, and DJ Decksterror, it’s an interstellar cipher grounded in philosophy and scratch-heavy tradition. The beat morphs into world music territory with polyrhythms and cross-cultural textures, making it feel like a hip-hop version of Fela Kuti’s protest spirit. Decksterror’s turntablism is more than nostalgia—it’s a sacred ritual.
Instrumentals That Speak for Themselves
What sets Time & Space apart from most modern releases is its inclusion of full instrumental versions. These aren’t B-sides—they’re integral to the experience. Stripped of vocals, Big O’s production gleams even more brightly. The absence of lyrics invites the listener to lean into the rhythms, textures, and hidden layers that underscore each beat.
The ‘Rise To The Top (Instrumental)’ becomes a sermon of synths. The ‘Hard Pressed (Instrumental)’ reveals a tension not always felt with vocals present. And ‘For The Gods (Instrumental)’ transforms into an open meditation on rhythm, culture, and space.
Expanding the Hip-Hop Multiverse
The supporting cast elevates the EP without overshadowing the core duo. Whether it’s Fashawn’s poignant lyricism, Adrienne Mack-Davis’s soul-steeped vocals, or Decksterror’s precise cuts, each artist adds their own hue to the palette. These aren’t mere features; they’re structural collaborators contributing to a larger, more cohesive narrative.
Together, this collective dismantles the myth that timeless music must choose between message and melody, or that “underground” means underproduced. Time & Space proves otherwise.
Why It Matters: A New Gold Standard
As hip-hop evolves in an age dominated by algorithms, P-Rawb & Big O are carving out space for substance. Their work champions depth over distraction, texture over trends. The project’s thematic cohesion, production value, and lyrical complexity mark it as one of the most complete and mature releases of the year.
In a way, Time & Space is a time capsule—not just of two artists’ growth, but of what hip-hop can still become when it prioritizes the human experience over hype cycles. It’s for the thinkers, the travelers, the beat junkies, and the soul seekers. It bends chronology, geography, and genre—and it does so with grace.
Listen to ‘Time & Space’ Today
-
📲 Follow Big O on Instagram | X (Twitter)
-
📲 Follow P-Rawb on Instagram | X (Twitter)