TRACK REVIEW: CK YG – SO SICK OF SAD SONGS

Written by Elijah P. The definition of short and sweet can be applied to a certain kind of media that’s compact and delightful. CK YG – dubbed as the ‘melodic king’ of Pasay – did the unthinkable. Sampled after a Ne-Yo superhit of a single, “SO SICK OF SAD SONGS” was CK YG’s slyest and cleverest rap&b flip in recent memory. CK YG had the gall to tickle our nostalgia to his own advantage. But I’d like to think he’s had enough of sick songs even reaching to the point that the flip is only used to elevate his emotive expression at a handy pace. “SO SICK OF SAD SONGS” is a gem that surpasses its predecessors who’ve sampled classic r&b songs without any unique spin to it. It’s a ‘comp shop’ classic reborn in the 2020s. SUPPORT THE ART & THE ARTIST:

TRACK REVIEW: Nateman, Realest Cram, CK YG – Akala Mo Ata

Written by Elijah P. Following the loss of Pop Smoke in the global music scene, Drill in The Philippines seeked to follow Pop’s footsteps regionally. So far as the current explosion shaking the local scene is concerned, Tagalog-written rap rendered a new type of aggression ever since its arrival. The hashtag #PHDrill took over social media for visibility and was utilized from names like Soulja444, Warhogs, Gabanna, and many more. The list grows from there, but there’s a new prospect in town who is reclaiming the sound, and eventually, picture their realistic depiction of gang life. Enter Pasayeño’s Nateman, Realest Cram, and CK YG tagging along; all three members leading the charge in today’s drill craze. With these elements all placed on the table, the group is surely picking up steam with a steady stream of heavy machine-gun clocking drill-induced mania in their single “Akala Mo Ata”. The overall bluntness, bass-shots-in-blank-range style of the genre ignited OLGANG to pick up the mic, show-off some footwork, and release one of the hardest tracks in history; CK YG rattling off from the dome, Realest Cram emulating East Coast’s most notorious voices to the hood, and Nateman raising the stakes, all the while hopping on a “California Dreamin’” sample. Chucking out gang signs unashamedly, threatening the oldheads, and warning the established names in the industry – these are reasons why names in the scene are etched in this long list of fearless rappers making their mark – and Nateman, Realest Cram, and CK YG are already making it in the big leagues. “Akala Mo Ata” isn’t just a group effort, it’s an entire movement leveling with the entire world scene of drill at large. SUPPORT THE ART & THE ARTIST: