EME - gangster-ish (EP)
EME – gangster-ish EP
Genres: Drum & Bass, Progressive House, Melodic Techno, Downtempo, Jazz
Release Date: September 19, 2025
Label: The EME World
The debut album by Colombian DJ, producer, and composer EME—the artistic alias of Toby Holguin—arrives as a bold and cinematic journey through the mind of one of Latin America’s most prolific and visionary musicians. Titled gangster-ish, the project was conceived in the Vincci Centrum Hotel in Madrid and marks a new creative chapter for Holguin, already known for his immense success as the leader of Monsieur Job, the Cali-based collective that has become the most successful act from the city in Billboard history. With over 50 chart entries across Latin Digital Song Sales, Latin Album Sales, Top Latin Albums, and Heatseekers Albums, Monsieur Job has already left a historic mark—surpassing local legends like Grupo Niche and Guayacán Orquesta.
Yet gangster-ish is something else entirely. It’s not a commercial Latin record nor a traditional dance album—it’s a full-blown electronic odyssey that merges genres, philosophies, and real-world energy into something deeply personal. Inspired by artists like Pink Floyd, and blending influences from drum & bass, progressive house, melodic techno, downtempo, and jazz, the record unfolds like a glassy film—conceptual, experimental, and emotionally charged. EME himself describes it as a reflection of his “anxiety and rebellion,” and the music certainly mirrors that duality: it’s both introspective and explosive, cerebral yet primal.
Across its 20 tracks, gangster-ish moves fluidly through moods and tempos, taking the listener from ambient tranquility to club chaos. The BPMs range from 127 to 174, creating a dynamic contrast that captures the album’s tension between calm and frenzy. Tracks are inhabited by a fascinating array of characters—Charlie Chaplin protesting war and social injustice, Bruce Lee philosophizing about the adaptability of water, Steve Jobs reminding us to “stay hungry, stay foolish,” and even the passionate roars of the Brazilian Torcida and Real Madrid fans echoing in the background.
It’s a deeply human album dressed in the language of electronic sound—a complex meditation on spirituality, politics, and the modern world, yet always with one foot on the dance floor.
The album opens with “EMPTYYOURMIND_444_777,” a beautifully cinematic piece that sets the tone immediately. Featuring archive vocal samples of Bruce Lee’s famous “be water, my friend” quote, the track drifts through elegant piano phrases and warm synths before subtle percussive elements begin to swell beneath. It’s a meditative entry point, foreshadowing the blend of intellect and emotion that defines the rest of the album.
On “BLUME9,” EME delves into darker, smokier territories, letting atmospheric downtempo beats and textured synths create a haunting space. Meanwhile, “4give+” introduces a hip-hop groove with snapping percussion and layered, pulsing synth tones that merge rhythm and introspection. “GOD IS LOVE” then flips the mood into a glitchy, percussive jam—stuttering and chopping its way through bursts of emotion and light.
“FODA” is one of the album’s standouts, an avant-garde collision of trap bass and kaleidoscopic instrumentation that’s as eccentric as it is infectious. EME’s production feels alive here—vibrant, unpredictable, and brimming with energy. Then there’s “RC3+6,” where roaring drum and bass beats collide with live football crowd recordings to create a track that’s both an adrenaline rush and an anthem for unity.
Of course, the undeniable centerpiece is “REAL.MADRID.1902,” which has already begun generating buzz worldwide. Built around the iconic stadium chant “Hala Madrid y nada más,” the track transforms a global football anthem into an EDM festival weapon. Rather than simply looping the chant, EME rebuilds it from raw vocal recordings, layering it over heavy synth basslines and rhythmic percussion until it bursts into a euphoric, stadium-sized drop. It’s loud, proud, and full of swagger—a perfect encapsulation of what gangster-ish represents: passion, rebellion, and the celebration of life’s chaos.
By the time the album closes with “FUCK.THE.SYSTEM_9:15AM_Agosto1,” the listener has traveled through an entire emotional spectrum. The finale fuses sweeping synth tones, powerful percussion, and ethereal vocal leads, building to an uplifting climax that feels both defiant and liberating.
With gangster-ish, EME delivers an ambitious and deeply expressive debut that bridges the worlds of club music, cinematic storytelling, and spiritual reflection. It’s as much a protest as it is a prayer—an album that pulses with energy, meaning, and the unique artistic soul of Toby Holguin.
If you’re looking for a record that challenges conventions while still making you move, gangster-ish is essential listening. It’s loud. It’s fearless. It’s EME.
