Every DJ/producer has two choices in their life: do they live behind the boards, or do they hop over the boards and lay their vocal chops on the line? Success is not exclusive to one decision or the other, but on the artist in question. Some producers don't have the voice/lyrics/melodies to match their production, whereas others understand the relationship between vocals and the production and nurture this relationship.
Producer & DJ-turned-songwriter Channel Tres met these crossroads just over a year ago and chose to introduce his voice to the world. And he hasn't looked back since.
As a producer first, Tres understands the importance of letting the production do the talking. "Brilliant Nigga" is an excellent example of a vocalist understanding that less is more when the production is on-point. With radiating confidence, Tres delivers the line, "You might have missed your chance," as if its of no concern to him. His rapping feels like the embodiment of a shrug at times. His leisurely delivery is only made possible because he understands how smooth the production is and how to let it breath. The blissful fusion of a groovy baseline, an infectious tambourine, and a jazzy flute make for an experience that's cooler than the other side of the pillow. The combination of these elements create a character who's already telling you, "Sorry, I have plans tonight," before you even get to ask the question. It's clear with this song that Tres has picked a lane, and he's sticking to it.
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