If there’s one thing that you learn about Samurai Del from this article, it’s that he’s in the business of making people dance. It doesn’t matter how the beat starts and it doesn’t matter what artist is featured on it. There’s always an element to each track that subconsciously moves your feet. From start to finish, Samurai Del’s new album Till Death gives plenty of opportunities to bust a move and vibe out.
His new album, Till Death, features seven different artists who bring seven different energies to the project. Each track has the strength and personality to stand alone. Yet, simultaneously, all of the songs flow into each other with ease. The lead single, “Whatever U Say,” features the talented Ben Zaidi, who received high praise from critics for his 2019 album release, Abandonism. The track feels like a dream as you float through almost four minutes of a bouncy ambient beat.
The second single Del released, “Forgive Me” featuring Laureli, has been in rotation on T’$ Money Mix since mid-December. I simply can’t get enough of it. One thing I’ve noticed about Del is that his featured artist is always spot on for the vibe of the song. It’s easy to find someone to hop on a beat and sing or rap over it. But finding that right person that ties everything together and hoists it up to the next level is easier said than done.
Samurai Del managed to create an album that is equal parts hard and soft. It’s ethereal hip-hop dance music with a rebellious attitude. It’s also lowkey video game soundtrack material. If J’von produced an RPG about the greater-Seattle area, he could absolutely use “Vista Park” as the background music for an area of the map. Maybe I’m just high, but I’d play that game for sure. Anyways, the quests I leave you with, for now, are to go explore Samurai Del’s website and run up the numbers on his new album. Share it with a friend, play it loud enough so that your neighbors can hear it. Just let the world know people are still out here making art.
- Taylor Hart (Respect My Region) 4/16/2020