By: Faetra Petillo

Rating:7/11

Brooklyn based rapper Chanes is bringing back the old school sounds of hip-hop. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Chanes’ lyrics reference things of substance: the death of his parents, growing up in poverty, single motherhood, and the price of fame and arrogance. With a sound that pays homage to The Roots but maintains a harder edge, Chanes keeps his beats simple and his words complex. In certain tracks, the definite jazz influence becomes apparent as well as the influence of past hip-hop artists like Run DMC. Most importantly, he recognizes what moves people and mixes some of his heavier, darker tracks with lighter songs ideal for a dance club. Though a difficult genre to break into, it seems like Chanes has the determination and talent to make a name for himself.