Album Review: IAMNOBODI's The Aftermath Principle Is a Pure and Honest Instrumental Hip Hop Mastery

This one has been brewing for a few days, and I'm glad I finally found some time to lay down a few lines of words in support of IAMNOBODI's brand new record, The Aftermath Principle.

Truth be told, I wasn't super early when it comes to the instrumental hip hop wave. Around the start of the 2010s, I was getting a bit tired of the rather heavy genres I was into, and that's when I discovered the art of head bopping. Soon after, we launched Stereofox, and IAMNOBODI was one of the people I was constantly looking up to. Also, I’m pretty sure he was my neighbour in Friedrichshain then, which added a fun little fact to the story.

We're here to celebrate over a decade of hard, dedicated work, culminating in the shape of The Aftermath Principle.  Released on his own imprint WAAG (We're All Guests), the 12-track record brings out the best in the Berlin-based producer.

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"The mythology starts here, deep into the night, in a room without a plaque or a past worth selling. IAMNOBODY stays until the hours lose their shape. The album finished itself sometime after fatigue stops being useful. Nothing here reaches backward, nothing asks permission. The record carries the weight of lived years, not borrowed legend. It moves with intent shaped by choices that cost something. This is the point people will return to later and name as the beginning - whether he does or not. The album is out now" was my first starting point for this record. I read it before playing the album. What struck a chord with me was the determination to not only rely on previous hype and reputation, but channel all of his past experiences and emotions into the now.

From the very first violin sound in the overture, aka "The First Vision", I was hooked. It was one of those rare occasions when I knew for a fact I won't be disappointed. In my attempt to do an album review each week of 2026, this could be the easiest one, because it was love at first sound.

Honestly, the album has such a strong start with "First Ascent" and "Between Attempts, Pt. I" being some of the most soulful and slick tracks I've heard in a while. That late-night soul vibe is simply impeccable. I got an instant Soulquarians vibe, and ot kind of figure. Just a few days after the album release, IAMNOBODI posted a slideshow with everyone who inspired him to create this. The real-life superheroes. "Everything I understand about feeling, timing, space, and truth in sound came from listening to these guys. You can trace everything back to them. Real-life superheroes," he elaborates, followed by photos of some of the most exceptional musicians of our generation. The late D'Angelo and J Dilla, ?uestlove, Q-Tip, Erykah Badu, James Poyser, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, and Bilal.

I love the use of strings on the record and the orchestral feeling to all the instrumental tracks on it. From elevating tunes like "Second Ascent" to the very somber "Second Fall", IAMNOBODI conjures a special kind of feeling with The Aftermath Principle. A sexy sort of nostalgia.

One could tell how happy IAMNOBODI is to put this one out. Not just because of the reception, but also because of being able to communicate with the world through his music. "I'm genuinely grateful. for the listeners, for the curators, and for the quiet belief that carried this album further than I expected. I don’t take any of it lightly. This project came from a very real place, and seeing it received with this kind of love means a lot. thank you for meeting it with open ears," Dede shared on Instagram. It is great that he wraps the album with an uplifting touch. The finale, "The Aftermath Principle," is delightfully quirky and radiates a strange sense of joy and comes with an important message you need to hear.

Somepoint pointed out it's just January, so I shouldn't rush with bold statements, but damn - that would certainly be one of my favourite instrumental records of 2026. I just know it.