Hip-Hop/Review Arjay Smith - Old Man Rookie Instrumentals, Pt. 1: Fives Up

Arjay Smith is a 40-year-old husband, father, actor (+VO), and music producer hailing from Southern California.

Boom bap and clever instrumental hip-hop are explored in depth in Arjay Smith's "Old Man Rookie Instrumentals, Pt. 1: Fives Up." This EP skillfully combines futuristic production with nostalgic grooves to create a soundscape that is both familiar and pleasantly fresh.

Smith demonstrates his painstaking attention to detail right away in the opening track. Every beat strikes with a purposeful precision that captures the spirit of vintage East Coast hip-hop while incorporating new and dynamic elements. The end product is a selection of songs that are both inventive and nostalgic, creating a captivating listening experience that gets better with each listen.

This EP's genius is in its ability to convey stories without using words. Smith's skill at instrumental hip-hop is evident in the way he uses sound alone to tell a story and emote on each track. The beats serve as the basis for rich, wordless stories rather than just being melodies to nod along to. New layers emerge with every listen, transforming what at first listen might seem like a simple beat into a sophisticated and sophisticated composition.

Every track on "Old Man Rookie Instrumentals, Pt. 1: Fives Up" flows into the next with a natural fluidity, thanks to a flawless production. The EP seems more like a whole trip than a selection of stand-alone songs because of its coherence. It is hard to guess what will happen next because of the variety of sounds and textures used without sacrificing the overall cohesiveness.

Arjay Smith demonstrates that instrumental hip-hop is equally as potent and emotive as its verbal counterpart in a genre that frequently depends on lyrical skill to get its point through. "Old Man Rookie Instrumentals, Pt. 1: Fives Up" is a production masterwork by Smith that demonstrates his extraordinary ability and attests to the timeless popularity of boom bap. This EP is one that you should listen to more than once since each listen reveals new layers and subtleties that further establish Arjay Smith's status as one of the greatest storytellers in instrumental hip-hop.