The Ghanaian Dancehall sensation has finally delivered his first body of work, and it’s filled with flex, cohesiveness and dutty vibes. He proves his loyalty to the genre in an era where dancehall is pointing to a newly reflective direction, reserving the genre’s traditions over 5 songs.
It’s an exciting time for dancehall now. The country’s Artiste of the year, Stonebwoy, is a dancehall artiste, and one of the first to co-sign Talaat Yarky, according to him in his interview with iMullar. Talaat’s intro is pretty much the perfect intro for new listeners. His ever raspy voice; the way it rose in tone, from hushed to beseeching, made “Forever Broken” more than just a record. It’s also a contour of a prayer, a prayer with words that comes from within, raw as it comes, a perfect dancehall tune. The EP’s lead single “Pop One”, produced by Unklebeatz. was a showcase for his originality, creating a sound that’s boundary-pushing but still accessible. The duo plaster the same formula on “Path Finder”, a song that weaves in gentle strums and Afro background riffs, making it one for the clubs.
Talaat’s songs are categorical here: they are either about living extravagantly and skirt-chasing, or unfiltered street knowledge and a sense of violence in his lyrics; Simply a man trying to defend his empire. This is the feel you get on “16”. HipHop and Dancehall are not so distant relatives. Songs under the influence of both genres incorporate elements from each other into their production whether lyrically or in the instrumental. This chemistry spans back to the late 90’s, and fast forward it has survived the changes. “Sink Dem” is proper drill, the type that deserves a video where everyone is in a nike tech with ski masks. Produced by WHOELSE, Talaat adds the influence of dancehall to this drill song, mixed with distorted 808 basslines, dark synths, and trap-style hi-hats, the perfect atmosphere for a dancehall-Drill song, the best rap performance on the project.
“Wild Steppa” is Talaat Yarky in a world of his own, going by his rules and steps. At times, his voice is incredibly directed and driven, while at others, closer to what skeptics might decry as mumbling, a true new age dancehall sensation.
