No Games – Single

I give credit to anyone getting creative and dropping music in the midst of this pandemic. Dropping a single and hoping that it spreads nowadays takes a particular type of social media finesse and savvy. Delly’s most recent single, No Games, shows his ability to make a hit and adapt organically.

The song kicks-off with loud alarm sirens, like martial law curfew, fitting this beat’s ill sound. Delly’s personality coupled with this production is a match made in heaven. He immediately addresses people’s criticism of his rapping ability by swooping in with confident bars and cold ad-libs that could make even a Migos member tear.

No Games is the type of joint suited for a sports video game soundtrack, given it’s track length (2:22), energy, and grittiness. I would love to hear this in an NBA 2k or Madden soundtrack.

Fellow NYC rappers like Jay Critch, Dave East, Joey Bad4$$, and Rico Nasty, were all featured on last year’s Madden 20 soundtrack, comparable to Delly’s caliber. Delly should make a push for getting on a video game soundtrack.

After listening to No Games, I had to double back and listen to his latest project. Twenty7 had a variety of sounds and vibes. This project had an experimental mood, expanding his artistry range.

Twenty 7 Project

27 (Intro)

This intro would be the perfect opener for a live show. This track is perfect for a college tour, once he’s able to perform and tour again. It sanctions some youthful recklessness and fun.

Quarter Water

If black folk in NY had to pick a Chinese New Year’s anthem, this track would be a contender. It reminds me of 2 Chainz track ft. Drake, Big Amount. If he ever wanted to develop this sound for future projects, it would be wise to work with some New York based artists and producers from Asian cultures. The mix of NY artists & Asian based producers could help find unique beats to play around with to fit his sound, personality, and the song vibe he’s portraying. I only say that because I still feel as though today they are underrepresented in Hip-Hop/Rap and it would be beneficial to work with people whose ears have been birthed from that culture.

Medusa

He tips his hat off to Rocky and shouts out Harlem, paying homage to his roots. On the surface this record sounds like fly money talk, but it’s layered with his articulation of some of the spots he frequents like Red Rooster, and he even describes his OG’s mannerisms.

Jam Sandwich

This is my favorite song of the project, really showcasing his talent and range. I’m always a fan of an artist that can Rap some fly shit, then switch it up and give you a breezy car tune to roll down the windows or even play in a low key electro club or bar.

I wasn’t sure if this was the first time he dipped into this kind of pocket, but his record Cross My Mind solidified my belief in his radio potential.

No Evil

His personality really comes out on No Evil. He’s got a nasally high-pitched voice that smoothly floats over and matches the beat. The secondary sounds in the background of the beat give the acoustic personification of a ghoulish spirit rising as he says ”Don’t you put that Evil on me.”

The “Swimming in that pussy like an Aquaman” makes me laugh in appreciation because only certain people can get a line off like that without being lame and he got it off with ease.

Broke B*itch

He really gets into his bag on the last record of the EP. He calls out the fraudulent activities of those portraying their wealth and discloses his ambitions with a confident demeanor. His flow and swift rap patterns in between the hook are something I would like to hear more from him in the future.

Overall

I really enjoyed this project. As a first time listener, I appreciated how it wasn’t loaded up with a bunch of content and he didn’t bar me to death. I can tell Twenty7 was a fun project for him to work on and I think it’s really going to help the development of his sound.

What I liked most about was how he would slide in little details about himself and his area. In one song he mentioned Roti which is a staple in West Indian cuisine, and it makes me curious as to what his nationality is... Is he a first generation Caribbean?

These are things that I think are important for artists to rap about, because it helps fans find out more about them through the music. Yes, he can do interviews and talk about his story, but to be able to do it in the music is something real music fans will appreciate. Music fans, like myself, like to increasingly learn more about an artist, their personality, and their sound through every project they release. It’s an incredible thing to grow and learn with an artist as a fan. In my opinion, that’s the best way to sustain longevity in the music industry.

You take a look at a cliché example like J. Cole; even with his extensive catalog fans are still getting new stories and vivid images of his upbringing – even though he’s been a veteran for quite some time.

I’m eager to see what sounds Delly plays with in his new music and how they’ll mesh with his talent and personality.

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