From the EP’s opening moments, it is clear that SimplyRich is capable of crafting some pretty stand out atmospheres, plus the flex of having an extremely tight opener last only 42 seconds, ‘thirsting again’ is an EP that’s brimming with inventive confidence.
SimplyRich is an RnB artist, a rapper, and a producer hailing from Los Angeles. Carrying all elements of his music on his shoulders, SimplyRich is doing an amount of work on ‘thirsting again’ that easily wins him the adjective of Visionary. His sound is mostly gentle and chill, impeccably soulful as he weaves together one intoxicating vibe after another. Rapping about love, heartbreak, sex, trauma, and humor, in his own words, SimplyRich follows a journaling approach to writing his material, an approach that lends itself to making the songs on the EP feel short and intimate microcosms of thoughts within SimplyRich’s mind.
‘BAG (intro)’ hits hard and is tightly built. A bouncy starter that is quick to establish a fantastic groove, showcasing the artist’s song-building talent alongside his unique vision for atmospherics. ‘BAG (intro)’ lasts a little over 40 seconds before the album proper begins. Being an EP, the 7-songs on ‘thirsting again’ last 16 minutes, on them SimplyRich goes all out with his influences and his musical leanings, feeling all over the place, but at the same time a certain strain streams throughout the miniature songs, making the listen experience a crisp and cohesive one that’s very rewarding.
The Drake-like feel of ‘I Didn’t Know She Had a Man’ is neo-soul at its most succulent, championing Rich’s engaging flow and rhythms and his approachable storytelling, as well as his sense for an intoxicating mix, adorning the song’s 2 bluesy chords with a charming mix of vocal harmonies, ad-libs, and a booming sub bass. ‘White Toes’ displays a whimsical side to SimplyRich’s songwriting. With its abrupt organ stabs and eye-opening bass part that changes the musical landscape magically whenever it chimes in, it is a gorgeously built track. The song’s shift to the parallel major is simply stunning. ‘drought’ introduces a bit of fun into the mix. A playful part that introduces a more melodic side of SimplyRich’s sound, it is one of the EP’s more peppy and engaging offerings. SimplyRich left the best for last, or at least, he left the most ambitious and fleshed out for last. ‘Need + Want’ carries a very conventional groove that’s complemented by an abundance of inventive and curious musical ornamentations. A track that showcases SimplyRich’s ability to deliver something somewhat normal, ‘Need + Want’ is one of the album’s easiest tracks, and definitely its least challenging listen.
Not for a single moment throughout ‘thirsting again’ have I felt bored. SimplyRich’s musical vision is just simply too vibrant. ‘thirsting again’ is an interesting blend of rap, RnB, and soul. An album that’s charmingly confident, showcasing the extremely colorful character of SimplyRich.