R Sinik – ‘John Was Here’ [Album Review]

Portland, Oregon- based rapper/producer R.sinik presents his new album, John Was Here. The 10 track project is a culmination of years of hard work after taking time off from making music due to the pandemic and other personal challenges he faced during that time.

“One More Round” is a concept track about drowning out one’s sorrows under the bottle. Over a solemn piano-driven beat, he takes us on an epic night of bar-hopping with details of his escapades and such. “Full Circle” has a nostalgia-inducing soundscape and sees R.sinik digging deep into his thoughts with lines like “Throw rocks at my glass house, miss em by a mile/Throw some shots in my glass now I’m sipping on denial/Talking like a man but living like a child/With the wolves in the valley of the sinners in the vile.” He unravels quite a lot of trauma on the track and gives audiences a glimpse into his life.  “Flex” is a masterclass in lyricism, and it delivers in copious amounts. The production has a touch of rock and boombap. From the rich guitar riffs, punchy drum grooves and vocal scratches to off-kilter raps. Lines like “I clap on the 1 and 3, running free on the track like a cross country team/Bouncing like some double D’s” underscore his unfiltered style. This is followed by “Runnin,” a jazz-hop tune comprising soulful pads, sublime horn passes and a solid head-nodding drum groove. Here, he talks about finding one’s true purpose while avoiding the white noise and detractors.

The project is punctuated mainly by the well-crafted lofi-soul, jazz boombap soundscapes that bridge the gap between the past and the present. “Bla Bla Bla”  is a 1-minute track punctuated by R.sinik’s distinct flow, use of couplets, off-kilter wordplay and abstract approach to songwriting. “SV 6th” is reminiscent of 90s boombap with dark jazzy textures. Here, R.sinik spits an engaging storytelling that slowly builds into an engaging piece about the city. “Chaos Theory” continues the blend of abstract with real-time issues as he leads us into a what-if scenario with different outcomes while  “Tell Me” seamlessly brings together two lyrical styles who deliver the goods. From the unfiltered, bravado bars, playful wit and expressive rhyme schemes to the superb vocal samples in the chorus section. Other dope tracks like “Cancelled” and “Thanks A Lot” also underpin R.sinik’s versatility as a rapper/producer. The former is an edgy rock-infused banger laced with energetic raps while the latter is a reflective piece about being grateful and growth.

Overall John Was Here, sticks to familiar terrain. The beats are rich, dynamic and punchy. The songwriting and lyrics-focused approach is impeccable as well.

As a solo artist R.Sinik has released multiple singles and two full-length albums; Live From Nowhere (2016) and John Was Here (2024). He is known for his intricately layered multisyllabic rhyme schemes and wordplay.

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