California meets Virginia when the bi-coastal duo of Keelay &
Zaire teamed up to put together their latest project entitled Ridin
High. Although the two coasts boast very separate musical identities,
the production team managed to come together to create a soothing style
of sound that provides a backdrop for emcees such as Little Brother‘s
Phonte [click to read], Blu
[click to read], Tunji, and Planet
Asia to lay down lyrics about subjects that many, if not all, listeners
will be able to relate to.
Ridin High lives up to its title in
the sense that listening to the album is like taking a musical ride
through life. Lyrics about the issues plaguing today’s society,
relationships, the youth – subject matter that talks about things a
person can see on a daily basis. The lyrics remain easy to relate to
while their instrumental counterparts end up being a surprisingly
cohesive final product. Somehow, with thousands of miles between them,
Keelay & Zaire managed to produce tracks that aren’t only easy on
one’s ears, but are of high production quality as well.
A
standout track on Ridin High that serves as a perfect example of a
solid production effort along with serious lyrical talent is “The
Times”. Blu, Fortilive, and Nino Moschella provide the vocals, dropping
lines that remind you of the harsh reality of society. “Everybody
talkin’ about how hard times are these days, can’t work, freeway’s
jammed, standin’ in line for welfare, healthcare’s rare, starin’ at the
television wishin’ we was getting what they got, dodgin’ stray shots
from cops,” is just a part of the lyrical gem that is the first verse
of this song. Guaranteed to make you think about your situation, and
maybe even get you a little angry at the world in the process, “The
Times” is the kind of song you can play multiple times and never get
tired of it.
Although “Ridin High” moves along smoothly, it is
not without its bumps along the road. “I Used to Ride,” boasting a
Sonny & Cher sample, feels slightly out of place on the album. The
sample’s sound doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the album, and
the relaxed, introspective, conscious raps are replaced with emcee
braggadocio, and criticism of the internet world and run-of-the-mill
losers. It ends up being a low point in an otherwise calming,
introspective compilation of tracks. “Alright With Me,” featuring
Dminor and Phonte of Little Brother is also a disappointment. One
spends most of the song waiting for Phonte‘s verse, and right when the
listener finally can get into it, his verse is over. It could have been
a great track, but it felt as if Phonte should have brought more to it.
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With undeniably strong production styles suited to creating a
laid-back mood for discussion of serious topics, Ridin High blends West
and East Coast styles smoothly and with finesse to create a unique and
desirable hybrid sound. Tracks like the piano-heavy “Wake Up” featuring
Emilio Rojas
[click to read], Silent
Knight, AV, Tiffany Paige, and Brian Francis, and “Beautiful” featuring
Surreal and Darien Brockington will be sure to keep listeners coming
back for more, and also keep Keelay & Zaire‘s Ridin High worthy of a
replay.
