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




more in music

RVA Live Music | Thundercat, Glimmer, Deathcat, Rikki Rakki

Lotta indie and a lot of dreamy shoegaze with a healthy dose of funk and hip hop this week. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit us up at griffin@rvamag.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ormQQG2UhtQ Thundercat,...

Thundercat Has Entered the Chat

Next Saturday, October 17th, the weird, funky spaceship that carts Thundercat around will land in Richmond for his show at The National. As a massive fan, I will absolutely be there. His is the kind of unique sound that makes a concert a “happening.” A funk so deep...

My First Phish Show in 1994 to Photographing Them in Richmond

In 1994, while in NOVA for high school, a friend who had grown up in Vermont introduced me to a band named Phish around the release of their fifth album, Hoist, and I became obsessed. As a classical-metal-progressive rock music fan, I loved it. My first show was...

Old Grace Street is Richmond History. Let’s Recognize It.

Editor's note: We were sent this petition after publishing: VCU Demolition Blitz: More Richmond Erased HERE. As reported by The Richmonder last week, “The Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan, which sailed through City Council with a unanimous vote Sept. 28, is intended...

Richmond Has The Talent. Tilt Studio Puts It in the Same Room.

“Richmond has always had this DIY, collaborative spirit, and I think projects like this are a great expression of that. There's a lot of talent here, and when those different creative communities start crossing paths, I think the city gets more interesting.”  —...