Federal Way has a special place in my heart. I grew up going out there to see family and, of course, the summer-time trips to Wild Waves. Once I started to really dive-in and explore the music scene throughout the Puget Sound area, I noticed that there were a lot of artists I was rockin’ with that were coming from the Fed. Gilton East is one of those artists. His new five-track EP, WAY98023, is making a big statement about the talent coming out of that zip code.
The lead-in track, “Federal Way,” starts off with Gilton saying, “People probably annoyed by how much I mention the block and the state that I stay. Can’t help where I grew up. I love it. So, fuck it, I’m coming from Federal Way.” East gives a shoutout to Yohiness, an undeniable legend from the Fed who continues to hold it down for the region.
For the entirety of the song, he uses the rapid fire flow that DaBaby got famous for. Gilton effortlessly adopts the popular cadence while spitting better lyrics than a majority of the songs in the mainstream market right now.
Gilton East “Federal Way” (DaBaby Flow) Music Video
You’re going to want to crank up the air conditioning because the rest of this album is even hotter than that first track. Gilton proves through all five of these tracks that he’s to be considered a master-class hook writer. On top of catchy hooks, East speaks his truth with original bars that reflect his life growing up in Federal Way. His lyrics highlight the perseverance and dedication it takes to make it as an artist coming from an often overlooked area.
Gilton East is showing us the depth of his artistry with the release of his EP, WAY98023. His 2019 release, It Takes A D.R.E.A.M., showed a softer more romantic side of him, with smooth fluid flows. In contrast, WAY98023, gives us stronger, more confident deliveries.
Production wise, his choice of beats from DBTHEPLUG, LogyBeats, and Enigma, come together to create a cohesive sound from start to finish. The overall tone of each beat amplifies the emotional energy he poured into these songs. There’s a reason that in 2020 I named Gilton as one of ten rising artists in the Northwest. I think this EP backs up that sentiment.
