Genres: Hip Hop / Rap / Soul
Normally, the word “classic” holds with it a number of positive connotations: quality, tradition, authenticity, etc… That’s all well and good, but let’s not forget that it also carries that oh-so-condemning label in music: typical. In other words, Classick may be the perfect moniker for the artist born as James Barnes, but that may not necessarily be a good thing. Hailing from a violent area of Boston, Classick speaks mainly of his own dreams of success and his struggle to succeed. In his self-produced “All My Life” from his mix-tape It Is What It Is, he outlines the hardships he faced in his life. Vocally, Classick possesses a sound close to the timbre of Prince EA, another relatively obscure Hip-Hop artist; however, lyrically, he is more in the realm of a less tactful J. Cole, and neither of the two are bad company to keep as an artist.
… read the rest if this author’s review below …
“All My Life” by Classick rated on a 5 Star Rating Scale
Author Rating: 3/5
Composition: 4/5 Arrangement: 3/5 Performance: 3/5 Production: 2/5 Hit Potential: 2/5
The most impressive part of this song is the continuous flow within the verses. Classick has an intuitive ability to carry on a narrative while connecting subjects through the use of approximate rhymes. In the first verse, an end rhyme scheme starting with “depart yet” ends up as “amongst us” and it sounds completely organic. With a fairly weak conclusion, the second verse does leave something to be desired as far as the “Wow” factor is concerned. The construction of the beat is over-simplified, with the same pattern instrumentation repeated throughout the entire song. At that point, any variety at all would be a welcome improvement. By the same token, it’s partly due to this over-simplification that the chorus sounds strangely thin. The word choice in the chorus could also use some revamping before being mainstream-worthy. Currently, Classick is in the tier between amateur and professional, not quite radio-ready, but nowhere near unlistenable. There is still work to do.
With a natural talent for lyricism that could be further developed into a fortified skill, I believe that Classick brings the positive qualities of classic lyricism to the table. What he does not bring is marketability; in order to make it in the music business, each artist must have that certain something that makes them stand out, that certain tool with which they carve their own niche in the industry. I’ve listened to the rest of the mix-tape, and there are plenty of hints of greatness. That said, even though it’s obvious that the talent is present, Classick may need some classical training before reaching the next level.
Follow Classick on the web & these social networks
Reverb Nation – Youtube – Facebook
