You know an artist has that crossroads breakthrough sound when it haunts you for days on end. It seemed everywhere I flipped the tracks on the “Jo’nuary 4th, 2015” mixtape by Blake Shaw, that haunting sound invaded me.
Blake Shaw raps, he sings, and he is seriously on his grind here. The mixtape is an enticing blend of Hiphop and RnB grooves that will hypnotize your senses. I have yet to grow tired of “Jo’nuary 4th, 2015”. Blake put a lot of hard work into each song selection, from the instrumentals, to the lyrics, to the hooks. Each song caters to a specific mood and emotion.
Blake Shaw is the epitome of COOL. He incorporates hip hop as well as RnB into this album, while varying in emotions and subjects from love to money to making it in the industry. I particularly like the creative writing, the transitions between singing and rapping.
Blake really did a great job with this project. He shows a lot of himself, without much collaboration. I think there is a total of 3 features to be found on this 14-track mixtape. He makes music not only targeted for the hip hop community but he reaches out to a much bigger audience.
Blake Shaw is simply amazing, going back and forth between rap and singing. The album has many standout tracks, but it’s the middle four that truly caught my attention; “Never Again”, “Say It Ain’t So”, “Synthetic Star” and Ayyyyyyeee Na! ( Ft. King Currie) – a mix ready to chill to, or get your blood pumping!
Not too far behind, you’ll find “Life in HD”, “Legally Blind” and “Hey….we out doe”. Blake has a hypnotic voice. His rap and vocal merging will draw you in, and before you know it, he will be tugging on your heartstrings and pulling it in every direction possible. Blake’s lyricism and easy going flow, together with some engaging vocals give each song a unique life of its own.
“Jo’nuary 4th, 2015” takes you on a journey that leaves you wanting more. The vocal arrangements fill your heart, the melodies grab your ears and you are lost. Striking the right balance between what’s typical and what’s important about music has long been a quality gone missing in Hiphop and RnB, especially in the last decade. Now those appealing aesthetics embrace Blake’s sounds within his contemporary musical ethic. He has been able to successfully utilize the newer computerized technology and the complication of hip-hop rhythms and RnB groove, intertwining dynamics that brings out the intensity and emotional honesty of the lyrics.
All the tracks on “Jo’nuary 4th, 2015” are well-written, well-performed, and do nothing but rightfully heighten the profile of a talented artist like Blake Shaw who is bringing on a crossover sound ready to take the scene by storm.
OFFICIAL LINKS: AudioMack – Soundcloud
