It took three people to make "One Step Back," but you can tell that it was actually a leap forward in the progression of hip hop. There have been producers or rappers who have dabbled in psychedelic, ethereal, and space rap before; however, the sound that GoldLink, Galimatias, and Joppe were able to create is something entirely new.
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When you first listen to the track, a feeling of weightlessness confronts you, similar to the sounds that were closely associated with cloud rap; Galimatias and Joppe, hereby called the dynamic Danish duo, fill the beginning with beautifully soft synthesizer chords and female vocals. Although, gravity is quickly introduced in the form of the 80's poppy kick drums, the expertly chopped male vocals, and the funky guitar samples. It has elements of space rap in its production, but it won't leave the listeners melting into their couches confused about who gets the next hit; rather, it will have listeners grooving and possibly dancing.
GoldLink doesn't have an extensive resume, but what he lacks in quantity, he makes up for in quality. Everything he has released, typically fall within our radar sensors and for good reason: he can flat out rhyme. His delivery is impressively unique and when he injects his flow into the song, it adds more energy, allowing for more head nodding. The track details a bad breakup, one that should have never happened in the first place, and GoldLink's off tempo speedy flow demonstrates this sense of lose and urgency, as he pleads for her to come back.
Whether GoldLink has captured you in his storytelling or you are busy dancing away, there is something to love about this song. Unfortunately, this was a specially occasion and probably a one-time collaboration. However, if you want more GoldLink, his upcoming project, The God Complex, is due out in the early spring. All three have soundclouds, where they have their experiments and older work.
