ICHIBAN - TEYO!

Intro:

Today’s post features New Jersey’s upcoming artist TEYO!. He’s cited many major influences on his style including MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & Kanye West. TEYO! combines all these different styles & sounds to create his original unique approach. ICHIBAN is one of the best examples of this that he has in his discography. Here’s what you can expect from the 17-year-old’s new 2022 release.

Summary:

TEYO! finds a way to surf & fall into the interesting pockets of this immaculate production. The feels like a sonic experience due to its heavy/hardcore sampling. The heavenly instrumentation & vocal screaming in the background contrast greatly with the more lofi drum elements/patterns. Colorful guitar playing fills the tracks mix & completely absorbs any dead noise. I noticed that the beat is intentionally louder than his vocals like in many underground rap songs, but his flow is so entertaining when paying attention to the lyrics.

He lyrically balances being artistic, confident & open. At times it sounds like TEYO! is speaking to someone directly which is impressive because I can’t tell if this song was written or a full freestyle. The chorus is incredibly catchy & also the highlight of the entire song. It’s a very relatable song too as we hear him question the potential outcomes from choices he could’ve made in the past. His vocal delivery sits in a good range that doesn’t clash with the drums or stereo of the sample at all. If it helps paint a good idea, he vocally sounds somewhat similar to an artist like Jaden Smith.

Overall:

If you’re a fan of any of his influences listed in the intro (MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, etc.), I truly recommend this song. TEYO! does craft his style/lane by combining influences creatively & being himself. Personally, I’ve been listening to the song regularly all week. It’ll be very exciting to see how he handles his career moving forward. Thank you for reading, and enjoy TEYO!’s new single below.