Deen is back at full volume.
It looks as if Ray Cash might actually wanna make a decent fist of this rap shit again. Pause? He disappeared for a long minute after his debut album and made a quiet return of sorts with 2011’s Champagne Talk and last February’s Don King mixtapes, then he went quiet again – save one or two random appearances (I clock something with King Chip and that’s it). Understandably, if you ask me, given the scant attention those projects received – there’s literally only one blog giving him any shine. But this is 2012 and work you must, even if the shit isn’t being appropriately appreciated (wow, I got bars y’all).
If I’m being completely honest, I haven’t spent enough (read: any) time revisiting Ray’s initial work from the the mid-aughts, but I’m confident enough to suggest that his approach to making music may have changed a bit since then. The bars are less intricate and a bit more style oriented, while the hooks and beats have an undeniable pop sheen to them. I approve of both developments. There’s really no point in trying to grab attention in today’s rap game if certain folks in high places are going to ignore you and describe your music as minor league because it doesn’t sound a certain way (or more accurately, have a payola check backing it – but that’s a topic for a different post).
Anyway, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Ray Cash song I didn’t like, old or new, and “By Myself” follows suit. An epic and orchestral sounding banger with something reminiscent of DJ Toomp in the mix, leaving Ray a ton of room to spout all sorts of arrogant non-sequiturs with no small amount of panache. I’m not so sure about the druggy Bond opening theme meets trippy kaleidoscope video, but it probably beats having to stare at Ray’s withered, red, retired-pimp visage with ginger goatee to match. You should give it a listen.
I’m hoping Mr Cash manages to gain a bit more momentum in 2013. He’s a genuine talent in my estimation and he definitely didn’t get enough outta his brief time in the limelight. If you don’t believe me, go listen to his old shit while I keep track of his new shit for y’all…
Download:
ZIP: Ray Cash – Don King (Left-Click)
