Album Review: Proxy – ‘Magnificent’
Artist: Proxy
Album: Magnificent
Street Date: 9/10/13
Record Label: Group Vigilant
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap
iPod Pick: We Livin’ (feat. Julia Clayton)
I like to call Proxy’s music ‘underground rap’. It’s a mix of a couple of genres subtly interwoven into Hip hop and rap. From soul to jazz to rock pop guitars, you will hear a lot of things that might come across as undefined to your ears in the first and second listens. Let me just say it right from the start: It’s the type of album that grows on you over time.
The album opener For the Streets which features Box Boy is a bit laid back for an opener but does well as the album seems to climb in tempo unlike most albums which often falls in tempo. Highlights include the Julia Clayton featured We Livin’. It’s a bling bling type of hope/ inspiration song. Julia drops some very nice sleepy vocals reminiscent of artists like Gwen Stefani ( On the female rapper Eve’s ‘Let Me Blow Your Mind’) and Skylar Grey (On the rapper Dirty Money aka P Diddy’s ‘I’m Coming Home’).
Another highlight is The Promise. The rap is very confident and grounded. In addition, there’s this choir-feel BGV in the chorus only dons like the Notorious BIG and maybe say Coolio have utilized well in the past. The rain effect at the end of this song is art! Thank You, which follows up, is also worth mentioning. It stylishly drags into a African danceable beat towards the end.
Though the album leans a lot more towards storytelling, sometimes personal (History of Me, Thank You) and features Shonlock, Mr Del and Propaganda, Proxy’s Magnificent somehow still comes across as a bold effort for a debut. I personally would have preferred some more style diversity as most songs almost came across almost in the same ho-hum. Still I believe Proxy’s Magnificent would be enjoyable music for a lot of people especially if you a fan of Wale, Kendrick Lamar, The Weekend, Kanye West and above all rap that is hardcore.
I look forward expectantly to Proxy’s sophomore record.
