If he is able to continue to release solid projects like “Still Sleepy,” then he may not have to anticipate storms, instead, he’ll have a warm hip hop bed prepared for him to stay as sleepy as he wants. These lines open up the “1999” song, and I can not avoid being fixated on the song as I anticipate what is coming in the next line. On the song, Sleepy raps about success in his career and how he’s able to whether any storm that may result from fame. One standout track that demonstrates this “1999.” Immediately, I am swept by the flow and the artist’s dexterity, which is entirely mesmerizing. With all 14 tracks on the album being intense and well packaged, Sleepy’s trap style goes all out to give his peers a run for their money. Yet, they stand out on their own through the outstanding production and mastering. In recognition of the excellent production execution on this album, I must applaud the producer Great John for putting together some killer beats on each of the songs that nestle tightly with Sleepy’s trap voice. With “2055” and “Scrub” as examples, both share the same storyline as they describe the artist’s experience with a woman. So, for Sleepy Hallow to execute that exemplifies rare talent?Īs I navigated my way through the whole album, I noticed most of the tracks shared a similar lyrical landscape. Yet, with the Jamaican – American rapper hailing from Brooklyn, one thing’s for sure is that the foundation that was laid by rap legends, such as Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, Jay-Z, Pop Smoke, and many others, gives any rapper much to stand on and live up to.ĭespite that pressure, to my surprise Sleepy Hallow stands on ten toes with his album containing only one feature - he collaborated with Sheff G on “Tip Toe (Bonus).” Nowadays, it’s an anomaly for a hip hop artist to write, rap, and release a full album without the comfort of features. Albums usually evolve from a specific motivation or theme that an artist is interested in at that particular time while in studio and consist of a couple of songs that can set the mood for you as a fan to relate to.įor Sleepy Hallow’s album, “Still Sleepy?” released on June 2, my expectations were neither extremely high or low. Then, there’s the anticipation of delving into the mind of the genius behind the mic. Most times, the result is a gumbo of musical texture and experimentation that satiates even those who are overwhelmed by the continuous music releases. When an artist on the rise talks about an album release, I can’t help but get excited about the possible collaborations the artist will feature. And though he continues to represent Flatbush and Brooklyn drill, his sound has gotten increasingly diverse, dabbling in Latin pop (“Breakin Bad”), New Agey atmospherics (“Molly”), and guitar ballads (“Weight on Me”)-proof that he can represent his scene without being confined by it.Recommended Tracks: 1999, Murda She Wrote, Mi No Sabe, Tip Toe (Bonus) As a rapper, he’s mercurial but spirited, throwing himself into different flows and rhythmic pockets with an enthusiasm that makes even his most threatening verses light up with a kind of happy mischief (“Tip Toe,” “Baddie Betty Boop”). Born Tegan Chambers in 1999, Sleepy-alongside frequent collaborator Sheff G, producer Great John, the late Pop Smoke, and others-has emerged as one of the freshest voices in New York hip-hop, providing solid counterprogramming to a landscape still mostly dominated by trap. When Sleepy Hallow’s “Deep End Freestyle” started catching on social media in early 2020, it seemed like the perfect encapsulation of Brooklyn drill: minimal, melodic, and intense-and at two minutes, the kind of track that begged to be played back-to-back-to-back.
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