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.