Barrett Staples is a young, independent lyricist and rapper who has worked closely with Itai Music, Kallie Sullivan, live instrumentalists and Undercaste Studios to release his debut project, the “Prequel to Something – EP” – now available on all major music stores and streaming services. The EP is an exploration into the concept of always working and building oneself up with the understanding that everything could disappear in an instant, and was Mixed and Mastered by Randy Ross and Isaac Meek of Undercaste Studios . Drawing influences from jazz, soul, rock, acoustic and electronic music, Staples has created a unique style of Cinematic Hip-Hop.
Barrett Staples is phenomenal. You can tell he lives and breathes hip hop. Just as much as you can tell that he poured everything he had into “Prequel to Something – EP” because each and every track is a solid piece of rap art. I don’t mean that in a pretentious way. They are all quality.
Staples is more than a street poet, no doubt about it. Not to mention the beats which are of a rare quality. It makes you want to turn up your speakers, and just let it rip right through you. He incorporates some jazz, a little bit of soul, a little bit of rock among other things. Everything is unique and pure.
If you think too much rap and hip-hop today, is repetitive, narcissistic, inane and untruthful…well think again. It doesn’t get much better than this! Barrett Staples forges an incredibly solid flow melded to an amazing production and a particular aura of honesty, that’s hard to explain.
The songs on the Ep are absolutely spectacular, and once again you can see the work Barrett Staples put into the compilation, as well as the effort he put into his personal life with songs such as “Millions” and “Dynasty”. These are inspiring stories of a young man contrasting life’s obstacles, which he has to overcome to pursue his dreams.
The music has catchy songs too, such as “Prequel (feat. Kallie Sullivan)” and “Natural Disaster”, but they are just as powerful, both in their musical construction and their lyrical content. It is obvious that the subject matter of Barrett Staples’ songs is thoughtful, intelligent, and philosophical. Which brings me to my favorite track, “Thousands (feat. Kallie Sullivan)”.
“Thousands” is so intensely inspirational and from the heart that it makes you want to go out and purchase the Ep straight away. It’s songs like this that give us inspiration and a drive to become better people; they connect us with the artist in a way that is rare.
It’s amazing to hear something new and fresh that retains an enormous amount of depth and class while still being catchy. If you’re on the lookout for music that is impressive and soul-piercing, the “Prequel to Something – EP” will blow you away!
And I haven’t even got around to talking about Barrett Staples’s magnetizing charisma, energy and flow just yet!
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