A newly minted rap/R&B star
One thing that occurs to me when absorbing today’s rap/R&B/pop scene: So many of the artists guest on each other’s recordings that a decided homogeneity emerges. This is further complicated by the cookie-cutter approach to production — which is to say cheesy electronic beats, auto-tuned vocals, predictable synth samples, and the painful over-use of that devilish singing contrivance called melisma.
Now, admittedly, folks who listen exclusively to this sort of music can usually ID which guest is doing what on any given star’s recording. But to anyone who enjoys a wider range of styles, whether rock, country, jazz and so on, the sheer repetitive quality of modern R&B/rap is stifling. (Insert old white guy joke here.) Anyway, in this scenario, multi-platinum, BET Award-winning hip-hoppist/soul singer Bryson Tiller presents an interesting study in that he typically doesn’t use other artists to guest on his recordings, so it’s easier to grasp his nuances and flourishes. On the other hand, despite the massive success of his “Trapsoul” and “True to Self” albums, a lot of this stuff sounds exactly like everything else in the genre. (Or maybe that’s WHY he’s so popular.)
Go figure. Tiller performs tonight at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods, and favorites like “Exchange,” “Don’t,” “Honey” and “Sorry Not Sorry” will assuredly delight his fans. Bryson Tiller, 8 p.m. Thursday, Grand Theater, Foxwoods; H.E.R. and Metro Boomin open; $58, $78; 1-800-200-2882.