Derric Gobourne Jr. is an 18 year old New Jack Swing artist from Sarasota, Florida. He is a singer, dancer, rapper, songwriter, producer, choreographer, fashion designer, and actor. Derric is currently working on his third official project, an album called “Supremacy”. Derric, who has choreographed and produced for others, started dancing at the age of five and gained recognition locally as a Michael Jackson impersonator. He’s been making music since he was 11, and his biggest influences are Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Bruno Mars, Mc Hammer, Janet Jackson and Jackie Wilson.
Recently Derric Gobourne Jr. dropped his version of a rare Bobby Brown track, entitled “From The Outside”, which seems to come from an unreleased 1991 bootleg album. Derric kept the original rhythm and vocal arrangement, while he re-recorded all the instruments and added his very own lead and backing vocals.
He also mixed, produced and mastered the track. Clearly he put a lot of effort and passion into the project which many lovers of this genre will adore.
The first thing of note is that Derric has not scandalously modernized the track with the typical bells and whistles our regular local club remixers do. The song’s integrity and groovy vibe has been left completely intact.
Deric has injected the track with a fresh banging beat and a thick snappy snare drum that helps to push the thumping basslines, which hold the funky rhythm together. Whether you’re a curious and casual fan of Bobby Brown or a ride-or-die supporter, anyone listening to “From The Outside” will hear the authenticity and the ambitiousness that Derric Gobourne Jr. pours into the project.
Deric, and “From The Outside”, proves that Mr. Brown’s tracks can certainly, given the opportunity, hold his own against his younger peers that are now dominating the airwaves. This has been promptly re-tooled to retain less strident edges and more urban compatibility than its earlier version and the song is compelling.
Derric Gobourne Jr.’s master reworking of this song is like all other types of subjective artwork: one can accept for what it is, or one can search for any flaws and dismiss it for not being perfect and keep fans from endorsing a man who’s embracing his gifts with the courage required.
Whether or not Derric is capable of eventually gaining the crown in his chosen field (or rather, fields) is unclear at this early stage, but the same courage and humility that helped him to rework and record “From The Outside”, outlines his desire to be the best that he can be, and that’s half the battle of maintaining your credibility in the race.
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