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“Focus” (previous review)
“Come On” (previous review)
“Ambitionz Of A Slyda” (previous review)
Blue Summer: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk (listen/download)
After almost a year of promo, leaks, videos, and more; Miami rapper Ron Slyda finally dropped his long awaited Blue Summer: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk LP. It’s 15 tracks deep with only one guest appearance and a nice variety of producers. It’s described as a project that depicts the journey of an individual on the threshold of seeing his dreams come true and the situations he has to deal with along the way, set to the unique poetic style that only Ron Slyda can provide. Get a glimpse of said journey after the break.
“Momentum”
This song was produced by Mista Marcus. It starts off with a clip from the hood favorite film Paid In Full. From there, the production kicks all the way in. The beat is of an attractive quality. The well-conditioned foundation, soulful secondary elements, mellow tempo, and subdued vibe blend effortlessly together. The hook is fresh. The delivery is kinetic and the lyrics are nimble. The verses are state-of-the-art. Ron Slyda relays his trademark flow, gifted wordplay, and intrinsic rhymes. He discusses what it’s like to move forward in life while others are standing still so to speak. A couple of lines worth remembering are: “And Miami damn sure ain’t the city to do the latter. I’d love to see you make it but lying if I say it matter. No matter the consequences I take care of me. A hater or sucker maker I will never be. Never see how buddy fell in love when she was only appealing in the physical. Saw a diamond ended up with a shilling. Now you miserable. And think I’m supposed to pause my life. Through the darkness we call the game I almost lost my life.” Those are some forthcoming bars right there. Overall, this song is a hit.
“Pay What U Weigh”
Jay B is the producer on this cut. It opens up with a cryptic phone call between Ron Slyda and an unidentified female. The full instrumental follows next. It is a sophisticated number. The placid bass, cultivated background ingredients, moderate groove, and laid-back vibe make for an agreeable mix. The hook is kosher. The delivery is showy and the lyrics are blunt. The verses are intriguing. Ron Slyda exhibits a pronounced interchangeable flow, befitting wordplay, and devious rhymes. He tells the listener the story of a set-up that he carried out with the help of a female accomplice. A snippet of the tale includes: “Them n—as trapping in the kitchen. I enter via patio. That ratchet in position. They hammers on the counter. (…) Put an arm around his neck. Press his lips against the banger. Brought him to his knees slow, let his brother know, f–k if you so much as move n—a’s brains on the floor. Bagged up, quarter cut, found a spot to lay low. Called up the brown b—h so she can count her pesos. Told her what a half and an ounce supposed to shake for. She asked me why I told her that. You gotta pay what you weigh hoe.” There is a lot of description and action within those bars. All in all, this is a gratifying effort.
“Mercy”
MindLabs is the entity behind the boards on this one. The beginning passage here comes from the movie South Central. The production here is tranquil. The plentiful infrastructure, harmonious components, gradual pace, and gripping vibe result in a tasteful combination. The hook is sufficient. The delivery is firm and the lyrics are heavy. The verses are stirring. Ron Slyda doles out an emotional flow, projected wordplay, and introspective rhymes. He opens up about a variety of ills that he faces such as: gang banging, death, negatively influencing the youth, etc. Absorb as he spits: “Good and evil I’m the difference that’s between. Intervene if you divine. Cause Lord it’s hard to find something that was never given or admired by my kind. A race of kings I led with ignorance. My failures were my merits. Pushing prisons and players instead of more money and marriage. Got established as a gangsta. Now the lil homies watching. Which every way we banging, that’s exactly how they rocking.” One has to value the potency of those bars right there. In the end, this is a riveting selection.
**My Two Cents: Blue Summer: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk was well worth the wait. The production is very seasoned and goes hand in hand with the content. The content is first-string. Ron Slyda did a very splendid job with everything from his style to the way he packaged his words. The utilization of the various movie bits was a neat touch too. As a whole, I’d say the project warrants a 4 out of 5 rating. Readers should give the entire LP a spin for sure. -MinM
