Miami hip-hop artist Dlaurend is releasing his newest collection of recordings. These tracks are heavy, yet smooth, and woven over a backbeat that just doesn't quit. Dlaurend pulls no stops, allows no quarter, gives no room for competition. He does not imitate, and his sound, which may even be too fine for the modern era's tin ear, is entirely unique to him.
Dlaurend Young started singing at the tender age of sixteen, and had already garnered the attention of the music industry in the Miami, Florida, area, which is a highly competitive and unforgiving hip hop scene. Nevertheless, the music of Dlaurend stands out against the usual backdrop of homogenous hip hop, a trait that has alienated him from major labels whom are too scared to release anything but the same-old, same-old. His music mixes the cool, harmonic sweetness of Boyz II Men with the groove of artists such as New Edition, and a subtler funk hearkening to Prince.
His loops are background music, not melodies, and his beats are rhythm, not the showing-off of a flashy percussionist. His music reminds one of the tasteful hip hop of the late eighties and early-mid nineties, when hip-hop hit a stride in its quality that stretched from the rawness of gangsta rap to the undeniable expertise found in performers like Seal and Brian McKnight. His sound is sonorous and soulful, executed with patience, precision and tact. His lyrics are heartfelt, honest, earnest, and natural. His lines are full of conviction and steadfastness. Upon being asked about the content of his lyrics, Dlaurend has said his music “reflects love, heartbreak and the celebrations of life.” These themes are perhaps his most permeating topics, but they are far from his only ones
