RVA hip hop review: Cha$e Royale – Royale Reigns

by | Jul 10, 2015 | MUSIC

Greatness. We all have it within us, but how many of us really chase it? Cha$e Royale has ambitions, he’s hungry.

Greatness. We all have it within us, but how many of us really chase it? Cha$e Royale has ambitions, he’s hungry. I really liked how he stuck to the theme for the majority of ‘Royale Reigns,’ even sampling the movie Troy for interludes, which is one of my favorite movies when it comes to expressing what making choices to choose ones legacy is like.

A lot of this reminded me of Lloyd Banks, early Banks, the good one, with a new school twist.

The only thing that I really felt didn’t belong on here was “NODNearlyOverDosed.” I don’t get the slowed voice thing. Sure, use it for a part of song, but not for the whole thing, especially smack in the middle of the project.

I respect the risk, as sequencing is key and the middle of any project is a turning point when it comes to momentum, but he lost me there for a second. Fortunately he finish strong, with records like “On The Rise” and “Traveling Man 15” which, though I hated, the hook he really brought in the verses.

That being said “Traveling Man ’15,” I’m interested to see where I see you next, as it’s the hungry that are never full for long.

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner is the former editor of GayRVA and RVAMag from 2013 - 2017. He’s now the Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, a state-wide NPR outlet based in Roanoke. You can reach him at BradKutnerNPR@gmail.com




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