motel void

Some time ago, we reviewed the latest album by Canadian hip-hop artist Rayhan – the first part of a trilogy titled uLove, a record whose sound world evoked the likes of Frank Ocean, Lil Peep, and Madvillain. The carefully crafted album is set to be followed by part two of the trilogy, uDOPE, but the ever-prolific Rayhan is first dropping in with a raw and unfiltered EP, Warming Up: Rogue Freestyles.

The new release packs six tracks into a tight 12-minute runtime, serving as a kind of bridge between the two albums of the trilogy. The rising Toronto hip-hop artist describes the EP as “messy, free, and honest – no polish, just me in motion.”

The opening track fully lives up to that statement – it’s undeniably raw, and Rayhan’s vocal delivery reminds me of Kendrick Lamar. Two minutes of pure energy – I love how messy it sounds, though it’s clear that with more polished production, these tracks would be even better.

Next up, MISSION ON MY ONES brings an excellent punk-inspired vibe, once again calling to mind some of my favorite Lil Peep tracks – emotional and perfectly suited to the pop-punk backdrop, with Rayhan going in hard over screaming guitars.

Never Miss Freestyle comes with cleaner production. As the title suggests, Rayhan delivers emotionally charged lyrics here too – his delivery feels authentic and convincing.

Hellion Freestyle stands out with great female backing vocals, giving the track a refreshing burst of energy. Rayhan raps about missing the days when he had nothing to lose – the ending features strong autotune, contributing to the rawness of the piece.

The fifth track, 530, is the longest of the collection, nearly three minutes. Featuring Ke-Lo, whose sharp verses ride over a jazzy instrumental before Rayhan returns with an even more intense performance:
“Got me feeling like Drew Carey / But I’m more like Jim Carrey / Putting on my mask and I do the dash / It’s about to get scary.”

The EP closes with Coldest Breathing / Love U Still, a more experimental track that shifts midway into a disturbing vocal section. Personally, I enjoyed the chill rap vibe of the first half a bit more, but the track ultimately captures the overall atmosphere of the entire EP.

Altogether, the EP showcases Rayhan’s talent – even in this rawer form, his music feels complete and cohesive. With higher production values, the tracks would undoubtedly shine even brighter, but even as they are, they more than hold their own.

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