Mixtape Mayhem: The Transition

YONAS, an emerging New York rapper, transcends into the rap game with a unique sound and lyrical style. The Transition, released on June 25th, is a futuristic rap sounding mixtape that shines light on YONAS lyrical talents. An interesting blend of club banging, soft singing, and lyrical music ringing, The Transition solidifies YONAS’ artistic style.

The first track, “The Transition”, is filled with hard drum claps, bouncing bass drops and echoing piano keys. YONAS made a wise decision to put this track first because it showcases YONAS’ personality. YONAS sings on the hook, “I’m doing my thing, every single day How about you? I hope y’all all see/ The pressure’s on me, and I feel it more than ever/ But I still hold it down.” His character is authentic, creative, and emotional. These adjectives are the driving forces behind The Transition mixtape.

YONAS’s beats are a mix of deep bass and slick piano riffs. He sings on almost every track. What makes YONAS unique is the combination of rapping and singing. I always look more at an artist who can rap as well as sing. Here YONAS proves to listeners that he can record well-crafted songs that contain both rapping and singing.

The first time I heard YONAS was when I stumbled across his single, “Midnight City”. This is a more down-tempo song that focuses on the beat and lyrics. I start to always think about my own life whenever I play this song. The track is the background anthem of YONAS’ emotional needs and drives. He paints a picture for his listeners through emotional lyrics. YONAS spits two killer verses over a sample of M83′s “Midnight City” song. YONAS raps, “I say a purposeful life is a life full of purpose/ I gotta future full of soul and past full of hearses, I resurrect them in my verses /Now the haters know life but they got to f*** with it cause the flow so tight/ I started in the left lane switched to the right now I’m in my own lane all day, all right.” YONAS digs deep into the track, pulling out feelings and laying them right down on the table.

YONAS brilliantly samples even more tracks on the mixtape - ”Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People and “One More Time” by Daft Punk are just a few to mention. He also selectively chooses he features; Brother Ali, Logic, DJ Corbett, and Scotty James are recruited for his mixtape.

YONAS is not just your everyday rapper; he has a well-executed plan and sound that is soon going to take over the rap game. Don’t miss the tracks “Drive It Like It’s Stolen”, “Don’t Give A Damn”, “Pumped Up Kicks”, and “Can’t Knock Me Up”.

By Ally Doxsey

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