Montao feat. Masta Killa – 2223 [Video]
Montao and Masta Killa turn sci fi rap into something cinematic on “2223.”
Montao aims far beyond standard underground rap formulas on “2223,” a striking visual featuring Wu-Tang Clan veteran Masta Killa that turns sci-fi atmosphere into something rugged, cinematic, and unmistakably hip-hop. The video arrived this week, but the track itself comes from Montao’s album “Echoes of the Cosmos,” with recent coverage specifically noting that he wanted to shine an extra light on this cut following the deluxe edition of the project. That context matters, because “2223” does not feel like a random loose visual at all—it feels like a deliberate return to one of the album’s most ambitious moments.
What makes the record stand out is the way Montao blends scale and grit. Earlier press around the single described it as a collision of hip-hop, EDM, and experimental cinematic production, and that still sounds like the right way into it. There is a futuristic pull in the title and the sound, but the track does not drift off into abstraction. It stays grounded by rhythm, tension, and the sense that Montao is building an actual world rather than just decorating a beat with space-age aesthetics.
Masta Killa’s presence gives “2223” even more weight. Montao himself previously called him the most underrated member of the Wu-Tang Clan, and you can hear why he wanted that voice inside this record. Masta Killa brings a certain calm authority that cuts perfectly through the song’s unconventional backdrop, making the collaboration feel earned instead of symbolic. It is not just a big feature for the sake of name value—it is a stylistic fit that sharpens the whole track.
The animated video seems to understand that balance too. Even the rollout language around it leans into the idea of the year “2223,” suggesting a fully imagined aesthetic rather than a generic performance clip. That helps the visual feel like an extension of the song’s worldbuilding instead of an afterthought. Coming back to this track from “Echoes of the Cosmos” makes sense because it already sounds like one of those songs that was built to be seen as much as heard.
More than anything, “2223” feels like Montao trusting his instincts and going big without losing the rawness that keeps underground rap compelling. Tied to “Echoes of the Cosmos,” the record captures exactly what makes his approach interesting: unconventional sound design, clear vision, and a willingness to bring legends into a future-facing framework that still knocks. With Masta Killa in the mix, “2223” lands as both a flex and a mood piece—strange, expansive, and grounded enough to stick.