Misterelle – FridayFunClub (Bandcamp)
Misterelle, a newcomer to the ever-crowded list of independent hip hop artists representing Richmond, takes the listener many places with his latest release, FridayFunClub.
Misterelle – FridayFunClub (Bandcamp)
Misterelle, a newcomer to the ever-crowded list of independent hip hop artists representing Richmond, takes the listener many places with his latest release, FridayFunClub. It starts on a mellow note with “Suffering Succotash,” an exercise in flow and alliterated syllables that serves as a warning to the listener that this 13-track journey is going to be about lyrics. As one continues to ride the up and down tempo of this project, the man puts forth a steady effort on every track. However, it’s hard not to recognize the influences that, though to his credit, make Misterelle as good as he is, also sell him short. Kanye West (“Yez Lawd”), Big Sean (“Stop Sign To Juggernauts”), a little Drake and Andre 3000, Meek Mill (“Team Player”), some Tribe… they are all in here, but Misterelle is too. Sure, he wrestles with hooks at times, some songs are too long, some songs stand out but are too short (“Shine”), and some are questionable (“N Bomb WTF”). All cottonmouth rapper smacks aside (I’ll blame the engineer), what he does do, he does well; and all the way through you can tell he is having fun. Potential is rarely enough reason to check someone out, but in Misterelle’s case, I’m glad I was willing to make the exception. I look forward to hearing more of him as he continues to creatively grow and find himself.
Jake Barkley – The Absence Of Fear (Datpiff)
19 year old Jake Barkley of Richmond’s own VCU makes a few things abundantly clear at the start of this 14 track project. He can rhyme, he has a great vocabulary, he wants his music to have a message, and really, he hasn’t quite figured it all out. But who has? JB does his best on each record to tell you everything on his mind and in his heart, but at times he misses his mark. Sometimes it’s because of poor mixing (“On Point”), or because his moments of clarity are blurred by the almost pretentious complexity that is youth: “shit is tragic/ word to the Montagues & the Capulets/ but people don’t know the half of it/ touch the floor with your gluteus maximus.” At times he loses focus, going from solid conscious moments to just rhyming about girls (“Definitely Maybe”), or getting intoxicated (“The Endless Pit”). There are a few standout moments on here such as “Stupid Shit,” which has a really uplifting message about overcoming insecurities and having low self esteem (I was a fat kid too. Believe it.), and the acapella interludes add as much as they take away from this project, though some feel like they should have come before a track rather than after. I would have liked to hear him let his delivery sink in a bit, to give the listener time to really absorb and appreciate what he’s saying. Sometimes there is just too much here to hear. On “Don’t Cross The Streams” he slows it down, but the track itself is a little long, and tends to drag on at moments–though I do appreciate the Ghostbusters reference. Jake, I really like that you have and are continuing to develop your own sound. You’ve got plenty of potential, but you need to let go of just as much as you have picked up. And keep working. Word.
