The Interlude
By
1 To Dial
Produced by Dragons
Pitchfork
The Interlude is the new project from GRYSKLL members
1 To Dial (one half of the Black Mavericks on vocals) and Dragons Pitchfork
(Production), it also features engineering and mixing from Q aka Media Pimp,
another member of GRYSKLL Crew.
I have featured 1 To Dial before as part of the Black
Mavericks but, this is the first time that he has featured on a solo release
so, I thought I would drop a little background on the GRYSKLL Crew:
The GRYSKLL crew (USA) got together back in 2021 and have been
making music, videos, podcasts and more ever since. With a collective love of
the true foundations of Hip Hop and its sound, they have come together to
contribute to Hip Hops wellbeing while inspiring, motivating and fostering
their own personal growth. You can read more about the GRYSKLL Crew on their website
(see link below).
With that said, lets get into The Interlude…
The project consists of eight tracks across a runtime of
just under fourteen minutes and kicks off with Many Zippers, bass, keys,
guitar, and sparse drums are the foundation for this funky little track, which
serves as the intro, not just to the project but, also to his rhyme style and
wordplay, and as much as it is the intro, it is also the end of tough week. Simple
Shape Up brings a solid head nod vibe with some soulful vocals on the
bridge. Here 1 To Dial takes us on a rather comical trip to the Barbershop to
get nothing but a simple shape up. There is, as you’d expect, some slick
wordplay and great interaction between himself and the Barber. It’s then time
to move on to Dex Luger, with sparce drums and horns, this jazzy little
number really keeps you movin’. Here 1 To Dial drops razor-sharp lines without
a second breath, bigging up members of the GRYSKLL crew and detailing how they
gonna hit, when they comin’ through. Next, it’s Jammies, taking us on
another little trip out on a date with his wife, and when things are about to
get steamy on the return home, yep, you guessed it the lights come on and kids
are there like they been waiting on your return like some baby-faced ninja’s,
and all this over a pounding bassline and head nod beat.
The heavy bassline is still evident on Pre-Church
but, this one is more laid-back with keys and electronic elements. This one is
a little interaction between Sam and his wife before they head to church on a
Sunday. The track ends with a chilled piano vibe that paves the way for that
Sunday in Church. A funky piano takes the forefront as we hear from a ten-year-old
boy and the preacher and their thoughts as the service progresses, and we get a
good view of it is to be in church. We are already into the penultimate track
now with Keep The Change which hits with a heavy, pounding drum beat and
some sonic sounds along the way. There is a deep message here as its all about
how you never truly forget all the things that have happened to you along the
way, but it’s about knowing that and choosing the keep the change you made in
your life and being the person for it. The final track is Still, chilled
drums and a host of strings from the main elements of this chilled and emotive
sound. This one really seems to act as a silver lining to all those clouds that
might be drifting through your life right now. Everything is uplifting from the
beat to the lyrics, which really does seed and grow this positive vibe right
down in your heart centre.
For some reason I can find it more of a challenge to get
into these sort releases that have multiple tracks across a short runtime. For
me that means it is often more difficult to pick up on the message or meaning
of the individual tracks as there is little time to let things sink into your
awareness however, The Interlude was a pleasure to listen to as it
flowed well and had this deep undertone of bringing a positive vibe that you
were not immediately aware of as you were listening. Yes, I prefer tracks to be
longer so I can get deep into them but, here the runtime just seemed to be less
important as what needed to be said, was said, and delivered in such a way as
leave you thinking ‘well, it didn’t matter it passed by so quickly, because I
got a lot from that’ and that really speaks for the quality of the wordplay and
its delivery by 1 To Dial; I mean, with what he packed into The Interlude, it
left me thinking that if this is an interlude before and Album, I gotta hear
that album for sure.
The truth is that it’s not always about the quantity but,
the quality too and the quality over quantity really does shine through here.
For less than a quarter of an hour in length, this just has
quality written all over it, production and lyrically it is a triumph,
everything fits so well here, both complimenting each other, and in such a way
you are left with not just a feeling of positivity but, also that sense of
enjoyment at a project that is rooted in real Hip Hop flavour. There is
straight up wordplay just for fun, storytelling vibes and a good mix of lived
experience along the way, all of which combines to leave you on a positive note
but, with just enough anticipation for what’s next, and see if you can read
between the lines here and pick up on what The Interlude is all about,
it might just make you sit back and say, Oh Yeah, I get it now…
This is one to check out and won’t leave you wondering when
you can give it the time it deserves because you can fit this one in anywhere.
The Interlude is out soon…
Time for me to be out too,
See Ya,
Steve.
LINKS
Grab The Interlude from Bandcamp:
https://gryskll.bandcamp.com/album/the-interlude-2
For The Interlude and everything Gryskll:
VIDEOS
Storytime: The Interlude - Zoom In Teaser
Jammies
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