RAYHAN’S LATEST EP ‘HIGH NOON’ IS AN AMBITIOUSLY CREATIVE RAP AND POP HYBRID
Rayhan Jabbar has swagger and bravado to burn on ‘High Noon.’ He talks a lot of sh*t and is audacious as he is outlandish. Rayhan is a good, credible rapper. He can spit bars with realness and intensity comparable to some of the best artists. He can toss off lines with the confidence of a seasoned pro in a purposeful and non-purposeful way (maybe sometimes nonsensical) that can come off as random and matter-of-fact.
Yet there are many sides to a person, as there are personas. In addition to being a rapper, Rayhan is also an actor and comedian who hails from Scarborough, ON. Yes, Rayhan does want a high life, but a good life is fulfilled with love, success, and freedom to pursue all his dreams and aspirations. But Rayhan has gone through a lot in his young lifetime: addiction and depression. ‘High Noon’ finds Rayhan exorcising his demons. The best way he seems to know how to do so is by searching for the light.
He has poured his whole heart and soul into ‘High Noon.’ In some ways, the new LP feels all over the place. It’s an explosion of musical ideas and sounds. It doesn’t fit into one genre, making it a genuine alternative, and Rayhan is the man to do it. He is a maverick.
Yes, the EP taps into the exhilaration of heady escapism, potential good times, and the allure of wearing the best designer clothes. Still, there is something deeper at play in ‘High Noon’ as Rayhan bears his vulnerability and authentic, true nature for wanting more meaning and substance in his life.
Impressively, ‘High Noon’ was recorded in three weeks, and the EP showcases Rayhan’s affinity for the Western film genre and his finding the wee hours of the morning to suit his creative style best.
‘High Noon’ opens with the track “Forever Solid Intro.” The tug-war is present and at play between artifice and something true and accurate. The single has a spacey, otherworldly vibe with a plush undercurrent of synthesizer movements.
“Evil Strings, Pure Heart” is punctuated by the bygone era and vintage guitar sound with vocals that appear and reappear, weaving in and out of the intriguing and captivating track.
The self-explanatory “Good Looking Rapper” is a braggadocio track punctuated with piano leanings that takes the listener back to the old-school hip-hop days. In this song, there is that push and pull again between external impulses and internal high-minded longings.
“High Noon Cray” is a high-point arrangement with an ominous and darkly hued music track, an orchestral cinematic bent, and an undercurrent of suspenseful drama.
The melodic kind of ballad Universe of Love” isn’t a conventional song about flowers and romance, but there is a desire for a higher plane of it amidst spouting off about “p***y and a**.”
The celebratory and uplifting “Fly Lil Ray Outro” summarizes all the tracks before it and ties everything together. Stuck in the mud is a metaphor for where Rayhan has been with his struggles and challenges. Now, he proclaims he is ready to let go; the time is right to make his dreams happen while the creative juices seem to be flowing and throwing caution to the wind.
‘High Noon’ is an intriguing pastiche of musical styles and sounds. There is no shortage of experimentation or creativity, as it is all over this EP. But the unique essence of Rayhan Jabbar drives this memorable project, giving it magic and uniqueness.