Reviewed by Vai Thomas
Rap and hip-hop, today, occupy a prominent position in the cultural movement in the West and beyond, having first matured into a genre of innovation and diversity, to eventually evolve into a discipline with its own set of rules and benchmarks, so as to attain and push the boundaries of technical mastery. But, as with every other genre in music, the rules, more often than not, are meant to be tweaked with the sole intent to strike a chord at the emotional epicenter of the listener (often paving way to new sub-genres). Of course, those who’ve mastered the rules first can afford to effortlessly break them without at all sounding out of place. And one such strikingly unique example, where the rules are simultaneously revered and tweaked to great effect, is provided by Canadian rapper Blow_Flyy, courtesy his single ‘My Dreams’. Aside from the immense precision required at diction, the vocal timbre and the lyrical themes are just as crucial in rap and hip-hop. These three parameters, once mastered, are what determines whether one has got it in him to succeed at the mainstream level. And Blow_Flyy demonstrates an effortlessly sheer prowess at all the three parameters. However, the Toronto-based rapper, clearly a man on a mission, demonstrates to push the boundaries of the genre, injecting ounces of creativity through an approach aimed at the basics that is at once unorthodox and yet not too experimental. And it works well beyond fine. Using the very relatable theme of chasing one’s dreams (hence the title) and the sacrifices one has to incur while doing so, Blow_Flyy adopts an approach that relies very negligibly upon rhyming (so often the prerequisite to songwriting in rap/hip-hop). And in this instance, thanks to the afore-mentioned vocal timbre of the rapper, combined with a fiery urge to drive the point home through personal story-telling, the approach works like a dream. Indeed, with lyrics such as ‘I remember that last kiss in the kitchen...I take a flight now,..long distance relationships don’t work..’, that are rooted in reality and a brutal honesty, rhyming really is rendered moot here, and to splendid effect. And the instrumental arrangement, written in the key of Bb major, and comprised of four tracks over a two-chord loop – the sub-bass, the kick, the claps and the electric piano, prop up the vocals very ably: the sub-bass in particular has been written and mixed very well, considering the motion it propels throughout the song’s duration.
And the chorus’s rendition shows flashes of the brilliance of Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, where the rapper nails that halfway mark between rapping and melodic singing, where the chorus is rapped using the notes D and Eb. Aided by the mix-engineering that employs double-tracking as well as an unconventionally interesting use of the delay effect that makes its presence felt without interrupting the emphasis upon the lyrical theme and rendition, ‘My Dreams’ also demonstrates a highly emotive yet subtle approach at delivery of the lyrics, in a near adlib manner within the common time signature that is at once moving and arresting. At a duration of two minutes and twenty six seconds, My Dreams is a poignantly energetic and propelling addition to the rap genre, and a worthy example as to how to use the rules to one’s advantage in order to tweak them to convey the theme in a far more effective manner than otherwise, and in a manner that very few, both in the mainstream and alternative realms, could.
About Blow-flyy
Blow_Flyy, a talented artist based in Toronto, Canada, originally hailing from Halifax/Dartmouth Nova Scotia, possesses a refreshingly new approach to writing and rapping bars. In a genre where rhyming is often considered a must, Blow_Flyy breaks the mold by delivering his unique style of storytelling rap without traditional rhymes.
Diverging from the standard verse-after-verse format, he captivates listeners with his compelling narratives. As an independent artist, Blow_Flyy diligently builds his own brand, dedicated to achieving his rap music goals, alongside his loyal manager.
You can experience his distinct sound and artistry on his Bandcamp website: https://blowflyy1.bandcamp.com.
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