Proklaim – BIENVENIDOS (2024)
Potentially one of the most uplifting, optimistic, hopeful and “let’s get the beat on with our groove” artists on The Other Side Reviews, Proklaim is a breath of fresh air anytime and anywhere. Based in Namibia, Windhoek to be precise, the critically acclaimed rapper is a pioneer in the hip-hop music scene celebrating life with a constantly alternating, boundary-breaking sound. Yes, his place seems to lie in the hip-hop arena; however, the introduction of diverse styles from funk to Afrobeat keeps Proklaim an enigma of music. Grab our arm as we travel through his single ‘BIENVENIDOS’.
The word bienvenidos translates from Spanish to English as “welcome” and that’s what Proklaim does in the track, he welcomes us to a world of eclectic music with kaleidoscopic celebrations of life. Following his funk-tinged single ‘LIFE’, ‘BIENVENIDOS’ finds the line between rap and salsa and then blurs it. Retaining a specific vibe in his raps, a 90s-inspired layer of Tupac and Lauryn Hill leans toward the realm of vintage hip-hop; however, the underlying traditional salsa tune highlights Proklaim’s experimental nature.
Recorded and produced at Pen Pushaz studios, then mixed and mastered by Wojtek Majewski at Audio Art Namibia, ‘BIENVENIDOS’ slips an entirely new skin atop his signature hip-hop tone. I might place the track in a playlist of the hip-hop variety; however, its sensual Latin foundation places it in an entirely different range. Profound but playful, confident but with a subdued secretive smile, Proklaim shows us a new side to his persona. Yet, as diverse as the song might be, the message remains the same: to enjoy and celebrate this moment in time.
“I have recently been experimenting with Salsa-influenced beats and rapping on them. ‘BIENVENIDOS’ is about optimism and celebrating the “Present” and remaining true to your intuition.” – Proklaim on ‘BIENVENIDOS’
Find out more about Proklaim on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustianablecurator
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