There’s something blissful and carefree that pervaded many of hip-hop’s very first years. Released back when the genre was in its early stages, those songs just exploded with this fun, soulful energy, and infectious exuberance that could reflect hip-hop’s roots in New York’s parks, parties, and streets. Proklaim, the solo hip-hop rapper and songwriter, blends those exact old-school influences into the creation of a refreshingly classic vibe.
Proklaim’s new single, “Soul Session”, is his way of giving a nod back to that old-school sound. With upbeat production in the traditional boom-bap style and lyrics, he brings listeners back to when hip-hop was pure—before the pressures of industry diluted its raw essence. The result is a single that keeps the very feel-good spirit that is so intrinsic to the beginnings of hip-hop, proving you don’t have to have heavy topics or dense bars to make an impactful track. He looked back to that early period in time for inspiration with “Soul Session”, finding a beat that offered the right amount of harmonious samples and pulsating drums to provide the foundation. Proklaim layers his delivery, styled with progressive flows alongside purposeful lines, excellently over top. His tone is lively, coasting along the easy-going rhythm of the track.
As soon as that vintage instrumental drops, one is thrown right back into the most primordial stages of hip-hop. Recorded at local studio PEN PUSHAZ and mixed/mastered by producer Wojtek Majewski, “Soul Session” really works within the realm of clean, polished production. Everything is crisp and balanced to bring out the single’s bouncy qualities. This gives plenty of space for Proklaim’s charismatic delivery to take over while keeping listeners engaged over the track’s almost three-minute run time.
Proklaim’s music comes straight from the root, and he has a real love and appreciation for music. This track does more than most I’ve heard to epitomize the unfiltered energy and fun spirit of those formative hip-hop years. His easy flow and positive vibes grabbed me right from the get-go. Tracks like this are incredibly dear to someone who fell in love with hip-hop during its foundational eras, as they breathe new life into the styles that first made me a fan. Proklaim is genuinely gifted and culturally aware.
I would highly suggest “Soul Session” to anyone who wants a taste of what hip-hop was all about in its early beginnings I can’t wait to hear of his future drops. You’ll be missing out if you don’t check out this song!
Check Out More From PROKLAIM:
