[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]After recently signing to Seattle’s Sub Pop record label, Porter Ray decided to let lose his new ‘Fundamentals’ mix tape. First off if you are unfamiliar with Porter Ray, stop what you are doing right now and go listen to the first few tracks of Fundamentals then come back and read this as a legit fan. I was first put onto Porter when I attended the homie Miss Casey Carter’s three year anniversary party. I was surprised to see an artist I’ve never heard of late in the time slots but man dude killed it. I was posted in the back observing the crowd’s reaction and I heard an older head in the crowd say in awe: “I’m telling you this is THE TOWN’s savior…this kid is the truth!.” Dude may be right, as I was immediately impressed when i checked out Porter’s trilogy of projects from 2013; RSE Gold, BLK Gold, and WHT Gold. I have been even more impressed with this new release, ‘Fundamentals’.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_progress_bar values=”100|Lyricism,80|Production,80|Album Structure,100|Theme,90|Overall” bgcolor=”custom” custombgcolor=”#b39964″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Porter Ray has a legendary east coast vibe about his vernacular and flow but everything he says represents Seattle and the Northwest. He’s like a new school version of an early Nas mixed with a more commercially appealable Roc Marciano. Needless to say as a fan of classic lyrical street hip-hop, I naturally gravitated to Porter Ray’s music. This album starts off incredibly solid with the intro and interludes keeping the project flowing like a movie about a kid growing up in Seattle’s Central District. We get to look into the life and times of Porter Ray, an intelligent young man whose been surrounded by the worst of circumstances. But in his lust for success and women he found his power in purpose and a taste for elegant things. Porter keeps his beats very consistent with his style and seems to only rock features with his home boys. This is honestly one of the only draw backs for myself. It’s not that Porter’s guest are weak, but it almost interrupts the way Porter vividly describes his tales and surroundings. I also felt that some of the hooks could have been a little “dumbed down’ (I thought I’d never say that) to provide more play back from the general public, but the hip-hop fan in me was definitely satisfied.
I think Porter Ray has a legit chance at representing Seattle on a national level and the skill he poses is undeniable. The ceiling for this guy will be determined by the moves he makes and how/if he transitions his sound into a more “commercially acceptable” realm (there’s plenty of money made without doing that!). Regardless of where he ends up I will be looking out for each new release and keeping Fundamentals in rotation for some time to come.
My favorite tracks: 2. Ruthie Dean, 7. 166, 9. Visions, 15. Searching
http://porterray.bandcamp.com/album/fundamentals[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
