February 2022 – Proclaim is an alternative hip-hop artist from in East Los Angeles, California. He has recently announced the release of his remixed and remastered 1st album, “Question Everything.” This album is a perfect example of what it’s like to produce great modern hip-hop with an open-ended creative mindset. This record happens to be Proclaim’s debut studio work, and it originally came out after nearly two years of writing and recording. The music is very special not only on the grounds of the production quality but also because Proclaim managed to embed a lot of personal topics in the songs. At the time of the album’s writing and recording, he was actually undertaking his undergraduate degree program, so he used music as a way to reflect on the challenges and changes that he has experienced during that time and throughout the years. Hip-hop can be a great form of storytelling, and the songs on this album are a perfect taste of an alternative form of hip hop music that goes beyond the usual cliches and dives deeper into a more personal and spiritual dimension. The album also shows the arc of a person who is constantly evolving his state of mind. This record was originally released in 2006, and Proclaim’s mindset has changed quite significantly since then. He even took some time off making music before eventually going back to it with more awareness and improved skills in terms of songwriting, mixing, and mastering. With his newfound motivation and abilities, he went back to his roots, this album, and decided to remix and remaster the release to the highest standards. Sixteen years later, these songs now feel refreshed and revived, and incredibly with great production aesthetics highlighting the energy of Proclaim’s performance and the intuitive approach to songwriting.
One of the most distinctive traits of this release is certainly the energy and the drive that fuels the performance of the artist. The vocals feel very animated and spontaneous, an obvious sign that this performer is actually genuinely connecting with his lyrics in a much deeper way. This isn’t just a puppet singer popping out catchy hooks: there is a deeper concept behind the songwriting, which really adds weight to the mix. Lyrically, the songs on the album deal with existential and spiritual themes. Proclaim raps about his approach to spirituality, often asking himself and his audience bigger questions. He tackles religion too, questioning the existence of God and diving deeper into other philosophical questions, including the root of all evil in the world. In addition to these relatable topics, Proclaim is not afraid to take his songwriting to a more individual and personal level, as he often dives deeper into his experiences, as well as expresses personal stories. Ultimately, this album shines a light on who Proclaim was as a person and what he was experiencing at that defining time of his life, almost as if this album remained a vivid time capsule, a portrait of an artist and a person in constant evolution.
In addition to the personable and edgy performance value, this release is also quite distinctive because of the sheer quality of the production. The mix is balanced and very detail-oriented, making for a lively, edgy, and stark sonic approach. In other words, there are many subtle nuances in this release, which really add to the richness of the album when summed up together. The frequency spectrum of the mix is also very balanced, with a tight yet deep low end working wonders along with a smooth top end, which adds a sense of clarity to the music while still maintaining that warmth grit that is so commonly associated with legendary old-school hip-hop. For this reason, the sound of some of the songs on the album might remind the audience of iconic artists such as A Tribe Called Quest or Wu-Tang Clan, among others. The beats nod to funk and soul music as well, and there are many interesting samples, including some spoken word segments that add to the concept and meaning of some of the tracks.
Ultimately, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a shot, particularly if you are a fan of artists such as J. Cole, Mac Miller, Russ, Logic, Phora, and Lupe Fiasco. This is the kind of album that will surprise you for its sonic variety, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat due to its catchy yet unpredictable arrangement.
This re-release and re-working of “Question Everything” is only the beginning of a greater pursuit for Proclaim, who is actually planning on revisiting two additional albums from his past besides this one. In fact, he really wants to bring his older music to life with a better sound, not only to preserve his personal journey and legacy as an artist but also to allow his previous work to match up to the quality of his current efforts and give his discography more consistency in terms of production.
www.instagram.com/proclaim_musik/
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