Brandon Mitchell is not your typical rapper, and "Sugar" isn't just another boom-bap throwback. On his latest release, he adds a touch of heartfelt depth to the signature sounds of old-school hip-hop. "Sugar" is a slice of nostalgia with a point, reminding us that hip-hop can still be a vehicle for truth, reflection, and elevation. Brandon is an artist who pours his heart and soul into each bar, and "SUGAR" is no exception. There's raw, thoughtful lyricism gently laid over cozy, golden-era drums and the soulful vibes of a minimalist instrumental. It's a song that is at once classic and current, a union of old-school, conscious hip-hop with a boom-bap groove.
The track's crunchy snares come in on the first beat drop, pitting scratching, dusty snares, and deep kicks back-to-back against a nodding tempo that both nods to old-school rap's heritage and updates it for the present. Brandon's voice is even and crisp, confident but not strident. He is not there to dazzle, with flourish and flash, but to leave something behind. Brandon's years of singing and choreography show through his own unique style of vocal rhythm. Each line is purposeful, like a choreographed step. His words not only hit, but they land with grace. Unsurprisingly, someone with such a profound sense of movement can understand rhythm at this level. "Sugar" is as grounded in sound as it is in spirit.
Brandon allows us into his world, which is informed by family, faith, art, and an ongoing drive to lift others up. That sort of earnestness drains through every second of the track, making "Sugar" something that sticks with you. "Sugar" is where Brandon Mitchell doesn't so much return to the past as reimagine it. It signals that conscious hip-hop isn't dead and that artists like Brandon are in the building to help ensure that. Sweet, soulful, and drenched in purpose, it is "Sugar." And it's precisely the kind of flavor hip-hop needs right now.
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