R.A.P.by Realest$Gold offers a glimpse of an artist finding her voice across four tracks Art is never one to dictate the rules and it doesn’t tell us that to grow we need to start changing our sound entirely, run to a different studio or declare we have reached a ‘new era’. For Realest$Gold’s four-track EP, R.A.P, artistic progress comes in the form of doing what she knows and only then noticing her artistic growth on familiar terrain.
The EP was recorded in Ypsilanti in the exact same room where she has been making music since the age of 15. However, despite no change in environment, there’s undeniably a shift in the artist that’s clear from the get go. Instead of radically altering her approach, Realest$Gold seems to lean into her strengths: introspection, confidence, spirituality and thoughtful contemplation which ultimately results in a miniature project that serves as a snapshot of her current self.
At the start of the project, the most positive track, ‘RISE’ delivers a simple yet clear message of moving forward and getting better. It has the feel of Realest$Gold not just talkin’ about being ready to improve and move on, but actually doing so. With “ARCANA”, as the title implies, this track takes a turn for the mystic and explores more profound, spiritual themes.
Realest$Gold even describes the universe as her God and has the audacity to call said universe a ‘gangster.’ It may not be the common lingo for a rap lyric, but this fusion of spiritual and street-bred rhetoric has that real Realest$Gold personality, without sounding contrived.
In ‘PRIORITIES,’ Realest$Gold gets more personal, dissecting what actually matters in life and in her career, as the overall themes of growing up, maturing in a more philosophical sense and learning what needs to get done shine through, rather than what needs to get bigger or louder. Closing with a perfectly fitting title of ‘Mirrors,’ the EP ends with an introspective flourish. “RISE,” the mystique of “ARCANA,” and the introspection of “PRIORITIES” combine to give an intimate and concluding feel to the project and ensures a consistent vibe and message throughout the R.A.P. EP.
A larger purpose behind R.A.P. Is to produce music that will resonate with women that feel largely ignored by mainstream hip hop and offer them their own soundtracks. With R.A.P., it’s not just what she has to share but to let the women who listen to it know that it does not solely belong to Realest$Gold, but also them. Naturally, such a massive task cannot be achieved with an EP, so R.A.P.’s role is more of an introductory point than a conclusive statement.
All in all, R.A.P. is successful due to its sincerity; its confident but not arrogant lyrics, it’s thought-provoking without getting too serious for its own sake and it is brief but high-quality enough to make the listeners want more.
Most importantly, it reflects that Realest$Gold is a growing artist, that does not need to radically transform to show this, but to pay close enough attention to notice the shifts and growth within the art and artist themselves.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for various publications around the world, the former lead writer of review blogspace Atop The Treehouse and content creator for Manila Bulletin.
