Lil Man is a rap artist from the northside of Houston, Texas. His music is a raw and relentless mashup of hip-hop styles inspired by the likes of UGK, Tupac, Jay-Z, and J Prince.
Lil Man raises the flag in hip-hop, to talk about themes of struggle, not in a self-loathing or apathetic way, but through defeating all odds to come out on top. He is consistent with his message, and his passion shines through – making him a natural-born leader. Lil Man is known for inspiring those around him – his determination is infectious, and he’s the real deal when it comes to spitting fire in the booth.
“Up/down” is the latest release of this spirit to all audiences out there. The artist’s unique fusion of genres creates an environment that sounds exciting, upbeat and inspiring. The backing track is a great display of creative production, and the accompanying rap has that crucial depth and hopes we need right now.
This particular track is structurally unique in that the opening verse is kept to a minimal length and the cohesive hook section steps in fairly quickly, which is great; Extremely effective songwriting, and instantly intriguing – even if heard quietly in the background at first.
The entire track is constantly changing. Melodies evolve steadily, so there’s never a moment when you’re not distracted by the sound and the emerging story. The meaning behind the words holds great value, and as the different levels combine to create the song, each brings something unexpected, gradually intensifying, always making things interesting.
The sound is complex but peaceful; Complex, but easily accessible. Creativity is present in every moment – in instrumentation, mixing, production, lyrics, structure and of course vocal performance. The emotion in the artist’s voice is clear and consistent and powerful, be it soft, almost whispering moments or big, soulful and striking ones.
As the soundscape merges and multiplies and collides with each other, this wall of sound comes forward to weigh a little on your chest, and then soon it all goes away, and you’re left with the sound of the world echoing around you.
