Why Larray’s Canceled Sucks!
A reaction & review by Sacramento-based Musician & Producer — Rhoman18
Forenote:
Before I receive a bunch of angry messages or get accused of being a hater — I do not have anything against Larray as an artist or person; the view is strictly directed toward the song, “Canceled.” Perhaps there exists (which i’m sure there is) a song by Larray that I could genuinely say I enjoy.
Everybody is following the same formula to writing songs
Top-charting songs nowadays follow a formulaic structure whereby the artist(s) select a pre-produced beat — which the beat in itself followed a formula — saturate the background of the song with well-kown adlibs:
“Internet Money, Bitch!!!”
“[random screaming & yelling]”
and center the topic of the song around sensationalized political and social topics. This is the first I’ve ever heard of Larray. First, My opinion on top charting music is that the majority of it is diluted, watered-down crap that is absent of emotional and artistic investment. I think this is a consequence of having an over-politicized society that has ideologues who are trying to grow an ideology. I also believe that the heads of music companies have come to a point of power where they are no longer interested in creating productions people like, but are now in a position of determining what people like and telling people what is qualified as great music. This is a sort of reversal in the whole consumer and producer dynamic where it is no longer about adhering to the consumer demand; consumers demand acceptance and being part of popular culture which therefore gives up their power of influencing popular culture.
Cancelled (Canceled) Is Just Like These Formulaic Songs
Cancelled is another trillionth rendition of this done-again trap song where the beat BPM rides around 88, has that punchy distorted 808, and is complemented with provocative flows. As I mention in the video, the whole idea of trap and modern-day rap is: lay down some fire flows on a beat that slaps — which in turn either makes you want to dance or vibe out with a blunt at home chillin. Of course, art is subjective and there is no right way to make art, but let’s be honest, this whole SoundCloud wave of rappers and trap style has a sort of mocking-type manifestation where most of the beats vary in miniscule ways and the flows are generic af. While we’re on the subject of truth pills, we all can’t act like the whole: “bluh da ba blah da ba bluh — yuh (sometimes aye) / bluh da ba blah da ba bluh — yuh / bluh da ba blah da ba bluh — yuh” was the only flow you heard these past few years since the SoundCloud Boom. I truly believe this song had the influence of a Major Record label executive who has profit margin objectives and couldn’t care less about the artistic process.
What’s The Big Deal —It’s a waste of the artist’s talent
What’s the issue with this? A major role of music is to help people escape — to help people feel and experience a world that is not ruled by competition, money, power; or at least it was a way to escape one’s current state of reality. This is why trap, rap, other forms of mainstream, club music is so beautiful: it helps people vibe out, dance, escape the world and just have a good time while they’re alive on this planet. The bleeding of politics and sensational controversies forces people back into the troubled world that is around us on social media every single day. I think that this will be the downfall of popular music and will open a window for more genuine artists who are in the business to create great music.
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