Skip to main content

Review: Sorry by Pepe Dadon feat. DreamBoy DZY


When I hear a track like Sorry, by New York City newcomer Pepe Dadon, my instant reaction is to be filled with both relief and refreshment. Although it can be argued that production and flows have become too similar in the last few years, I personally find that the main cause of homogeny in modern hip-hop comes from the lyrical content. The same tiresome lines about the vast quantities of sex one's having, drugs one's taking, or money one's earning made sense during the glitzy bling era of rap. But now, when the production styles tend to be drawn from very deep atmospheric soundscapes, this over-the-top braggadocio often comes across as lazy lyricism.

Sorry, however, is a wonderfully emotive tale of overcoming hardship, offering apologies to those who might have suffered along the way while finding solace in success. There is never an ounce of arrogance coming out of this track, in fact there is a lot of humility on show, and even when it does delve into those more typical hip-hop topics it keeps them within it's own thematic context. The lyrical style of the track is very direct, and there aren't any overly elaborate metaphors or wordplay, but with the subjects that are being portrayed there doesn't need to be any unnecessary decoration.

The production on Sorry is nicely minimalist, ensuring the emotion of the lyrics is given an appropriate background without ever being overshadowed. The guitar arpeggio sounds like it could have come from one of the more radio friendly 90s UK garage classics, but the subtly nuanced trap beat ensures that this doesn't feel at all vintage.

The vocals are superb throughout while not being overwrought with autotune, and the chorus hook that also opens the track is brilliantly catchy and immediately memorable. The flows have an unexpected level of technicality to them with numerous speedy twists and melodic turns that guarantee you'll want to put this on repeat.

The feature verse from DreamBoy DZY offers a slight contrast with a harder and more directly rhythmic flow. It does exactly what a feature should do, offering a counterbalance that never tips the scales too far. Both verses utilise the singing-rap style that the likes of Drake and Future have made more prevalent in recent years, but there's a balance to their melodic styles which shows a nice chemistry between them.

The only negative I feel with this track is that it is perhaps a little underwritten. Because the vocals and the lyrics are the primary focus, I feel like another verse from Pepe Dadon, even if it was shorter but more expansive, would have given the song an extra layer and kept the engagement up through repeat listens.

All in all, Sorry is a wonderful track that not only has big potential itself but also is an indicator of Pepe Dadon's future potential too. The lyrics and the flows are impressive, and to hear an authentic tale of hardship presented in this way is really enjoyable. It's an incredibly catchy track too, and Pepe Dadon has used the simplicity of the production to brilliant effect. My feeling after many listens is simply that I want more, and I'm looking forward to what Pepe Dadon can continue to bring to the table.


You can listen to Sorry and other tracks by Pepe Dadon on Spotify

Check out Pepe Dadon on Google, Instagram and Youtube.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview: Eneko Artola

In a relatively short time Eneko Artola has gone from an unknown figure with a passion for music to one of the most notable new producers in house and music today. His background is fascinating, and his rise is one that seems to be nowhere near it's peak yet. His music combines the kind of soulful, vocal-led house music popularised a few years ago by the likes of Duke Dumont, Disclosure and Swedish House Mafia, and through the latter half of the 2010s has developed into the Electro-Chill and Tropical House scenes. Eneko puts a distinctive French twist into his sound though, reminiscent of some of the French House artists like Cassius or Justice, and it's a sound which has helped him gain some remarkable traction in such a short time. Based in London, the 20 year old originally hails from the French area of the Basque Country; but his travels have taken him beyond Europe, spending time in Canada and China before coming to the UK. In the first part of this interview we talked abo...
1 comment
Read more

Review: Voodoo Macbeth by The Judex

In the modern age, garage rock is one of those genre tags which manages to be somewhat intangible yet also quite specific at the same time; you know the kind of sounds to expect, yet it's also quite hard to pinpoint exactly what defines those sounds as garage rock. Sure there's fuzzy punk rock guitars, relentlessly loud drums and booming rock'n'roll vocals, but then you could say that about any number of genres. The nature of garage rock is more in it's historical outlook, and the utilisation of influences from a bygone era. That doesn't mean garage rock should be a genre reserved specifically for a niche subculture though, because while there is a rich fandom around the style, the best garage rock bands are those who can, musically at least, transcend some of the clichés inherent in those vintage tropes. This is where we find Philadelphia natives The Judex, a four piece whose intense form of garage rock blends in elements from blues, soul, rockabilly and punk. ...
1 comment
Read more

Review: At The Boiling Point by Marshall Oakman

There's something about boogie-woogie in it's modern form that is incredibly joyous. The melting pot of blues, rock n roll and r'n'b that defines the style is infectious but, certainly for those of us in the UK at least, it's rarely heard outside of Jools Holland's TV show jams. And when you do hear it, it's rarely done as well as Marshall Oakman's At The Boiling Point, an instantly catchy and remarkably well composed track that hits every mark a great modern boogie-woogie track should. Marshall Oakman may not be a familiar name, but over his extensive career the New York based musician has forged an impressive path not only as a talented songwriter but also a tremendous performer, with a strong reputation across the Eastern US. For his latest single he has enlisted the help of fellow New Yorkers Kasim Sulton on bass, Liberty DeVitto on drums and Paul Pesco on guitar, all of whom come with fantastic experience and provide skilful playing on the track. At...
Post a Comment
Read more