By Odeisel
As KRS- One made known to the Hip-Hop masses, ichiban is Japanese for the number 1. Donny Goines has had enough of underground darling status and is out from some bright light love with his new single “Ich!ban” from his coming work, Success Served Cold.
Quirky synth covers this track while a simple drum loo forms the foundations. Ambient pop noise expand on the break with a digital organ for good measure. The beat feels like it should be louder, like some of the synth should be louder and further in the front. There isn’t much motion but it will hold your attention for a few listens.
Vocally, there is an echo effect that finds Goines effectively rapping a duet with himself. He employs many of the tricks he’s picked up skill-wise since Minute After Midnight. He traverses terrain with the Big Sean punch set up and switches devices to rhyme on the front end of the line instead of the end note (Motif Motivated by Mozart),slips in an out of time line a la Back To The Future. There is occasional southern inflection in his voice and a couple changes in cadence.
“Ich!ban” is not the leap in evolution that 20X was, but it’s more of a polishing and shining up of elements that he’s picked up along his journey towards improvement. Whether the fans take to the sleeker model will take some time. Sometimes the road of an old muscle car beats the aesthetics of the newer models. Judge for yourself. “Ich!ban.”
Donny Goines – “Ich!ban
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