BlacKlout: “The Vibe” – propulsive, form-forward rapping with straight up bars

BlacKlout is a rap/hip-hop artist based in Hawaii. This prolific artist has released 13 singles and an EP in rapid succession. Since February, listeners have been treated to an explosion of new content. An EP, “De West Coast Trio” is expected in the coming weeks. While the release of a new album, “For The Fame”, is also approaching fast. Expect new material in April or May. In the meantime we have his very latest EP release “The Vibe”. BlacKlout’s new release, does not disappoint. There are no tracks to skip.

It contains three tracks filled with addicting melodies, head-bobbing beats, and overflowing with smart and honest lyrical content. BlacKlout sings, he raps, and he just does about anything that comes to his mind, mostly he’s having a real good time, and taking us along for the ride.

From when the EP opens with “Handstand”, we get nice production, refreshing lyrics and themes, solid modern style flows and a little old school mixed in. BlacKlout manages to bring back a little bit of purity and playfulness to hip hop. Actually he brings a whole lot of playfulness on this track.

“Bounce that ass, let me see you do a handstand,” let’s you know exactly what BlacKlout wants to play with too. It’s an explicit high-energy club anthem that will surely bring the twerking on. And BlacKlout is as naughty as he wants to be on this sexually charged jam, featuring Da Doc.

“Bonnie and Clyde” flips the initial sonics on its head, as BlacKlout comes out wearing his crooning clothes, though he doesn’t drop the passionately lusty themes, which is all part of “The Vibe”. It’s is a piano-bounce track that is sure to bring any downer out of their shell.

Jazzy Rap-Pop only works some of the time and, luckily, this is one of those times, as BlacKlout gets the formula just right on top of this foot-tapping beat. Play this at a party and even the dudes with the slickest suits and ties will start humming along. How do you resist that earworm melody and keyboard? You don’t. You simply take it straight to the wall.

If you’re in this for the rapping skills, then the best track on the EP has to be “2faced” ft. Da Doc. Here BlacKlout unpacks his toolset and sets about getting the job done.  He seems to have settled into a place in which he can play around with some modern sounds without losing his essence.

Throughout “2faced”, he does a great job of balancing propulsive, form-forward rapping with straight up bars. And due to a combination of experience and confidence BlacKlout brings on a pretty well-rounded scope of emotions and moods in the process. The strongest moments on “The Vibe” EP, show the ever-unassuming BlacKlout leaning into what he excels at best: telling it like it is.

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