Barrett Staples delivers Hip-hop music from Seattle drawing influences from jazz, soul, rnb and electronic on his EP “That Yonder”. Neither filled with the bleak resignation nor overwhelmingly joyful, Barrett Staples,forges stunning, sobering realism maintaining a precocious mastery of his craft with windingly poetic flows over jazzy, subdued beats that will tantalize and mesmerize.
Barrett Staples is still somewhat of an unknown outside of his hometown, but I doubt he will be that way for much longer on the strength of the 4 tracks that can be heard here. Barrett’s mastery of poetry is on full display throughout his work.
On the introductory song “Nova”, he raps at a steadfast speed, showing off with a remarkable sense of wordplay that he doesn’t sacrifice depth for the sake of being clever. He excels with a vivid depiction of events or experiences in his songs, filled with rich empathy and detail that gives the listener a clear understanding of what’s on his mind.
What’s essential is Barrett Staples perspective, his own personal portrayal of his vision which he explores on “Spindrift”, and where dreams grow and hope thrives in spite of an environment. “Right Way” sees Barrett digging deep into his technical skillset with high-speed raps.
While “All Right” sets forth a soulful and melodic track, probably the best of the bunch, depending on taste. All through this EP Barrett Staples’ confidence stands out. He attains it through intense self-reflection and bold determination, proving that “That Yonder” is an accomplished statement.
The EP ventures to sonic heights, as the melodies, raps, and production from the likes of Itai Music, Peter Agelo & Nova Jazz Beatmaker resonate through here. Moreover it’s clear that Barrett Staples has poured hours into his craft.
You can hear it in his raps – each bar is carefully written, each song thoughtfully constructed, listening to him is no different than watching a mathematician solve an equation. I didn’t expect to walk away liking this recording but it’s so much better than I expected.
Hearing Barrett’s verses and I couldn’t help but appreciate the amount of realness and vulnerability in his voice. He seems proud of himself, yet humble at the same time. In a way he is refining the rap game, with his easy flowing rhyming style and the smooth beats.
It would be easy to call Barrett Staples a ‘niche’ artist and by extension “That Yonder” a niche album, and to some extend that’s true; it certainly wasn’t crafted to appeal to everyone and the Top40. But another great thing the Internet has shown us is that these ‘niches’ are a whole lot bigger than anyone previously thought.
You might think you’re the only one that has discovered songs like, “Spindrift” and “All Right”, but it turns out you’re one of thousands. In that sense Barrett Staples’ music is as much about connecting fans to him as it is about connecting fans to each other. And that is ultimately what real music is about!
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