Between 2022 and 2024, after decades of building his rap career, John Brown the Rapper decided to sharpen his already formidable pen at Pendulum Ink a rigorous, almost mythic training ground for lyricists led by Mickey Factz and a rotating cast of elite emcees. Often described as the X-Men school for lyricism, the online academy helped Brown hone his craft, which finds its fullest expression on Waxing In Mecca, his full-length collaborative album with legendary Brooklyn production duo Da Beatminerz. Waxing In Mecca is both statement and philosophy. The title is a nod to the phrase waxing poetic, the act of delivering dense, elevated lyricism. The album was written and recorded in Harlem, a cultural mecca of NYC. The album title also reframes the idea of boom baps relevance, asserting that rather than waning, the sound is in a constant state of growth, expanding in complexity and impact, shining brighter with each new generation of artists committed to