Brooklyn based DJ and Producer Erol Sabadosh teams up with Houston rapper Ron Wayne, for a soulful, topical, but reserved project that simmers just below the surface. The 2020 debut by Erol is a refreshingly new take on classic eclectic rap music, much like the way renowned DJ Premier had a way of tailoring a whole vibe to fit an MC’s voice. That’s what Erol does with this song! You might also say that his risen to vogue status by pledging a zealous devotion to the art of hip-hop, because he transports his audience and saunters them onto New York’s hip-hop scene in the mid-90s as part of a cultural heritage tour. You get to revisit hip-hop’s golden age made famous with rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim and more.
It’s this setup that forms the backbone of “Staring at the Sun”. As for Ron Wayne he manages to make fire bars, making his audience aware that hip-hop isn’t dead but here to stay. The song is intensely sincere with feel good rhymes and mood-boosting wordplay as Ron Wayne proudly serves witty and catchy lyrics. Chunky, soulful loops and boxy drum patterns become a sturdy platform for Ron Wayne’s rapping. The bulk of the song showcases the MC’s conceptual chops and ability to pen topical issues. The vibes begin immediately, and that’s understandable, because Ron Wayne’s flow is magnetic and hypnotizing. He’s also suave like that veteran rapper that has an O.G classic album that you bump to every so often.
The song’s most affecting moment comes courtesy of its hook, honing in on the acronym ‘Cash Rules Everything Around Me’, as it highlights the struggles people go through to make a living. Ron Wayne still adds a touch of longing, as though there’s something knowingly out of reach for the everyday person but still can’t help but yearn for. However, the song’s popularity owes more to its beat than any other element. By far, “Staring at the Sun” is the most compelling and nostalgic release to come out this year with it’s sole ability to take you on a trip down hip-hop memory lane. It boasts enough melodic persuasion and generates just enough arresting ideas to hold your attention. The song sounds more engaging when its fixated on rap from another era. The emotion behind it feels earned and shows its capacity to surprise and exhilarate any rap fan.
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