You know, hip-hop may have sprung from the loins of the South Bronx, but let me tell you, it’s embarked on one hell of a journey since those early days. It ain’t just been travelling, folks; it’s been absorbing, evolving, dancing to the rhythm of changing times, reinventing itself through the ever-shifting zeitgeist and cultural influences. And that, my friends, is what keeps it kicking, what ensures its survival.
Now, let’s take a gander at “Breakthrough.” This here’s the prime example of those forces at play, a beautiful marriage of the urban vibes hailing from her stomping grounds in NYC and the sonic tapestries woven from her Japanese heritage. It’s a heady concoction of Western groove and Eastern delicacy, a harmonious fusion of Occident and Orient that’ll make your head spin.
The starting point for this sonic missive is Will Smith’s antics at the 2022 Academy Awards. She was stunned, not just by his actions but also by the assumption that, in the 21st century, women still needed a man to fight their battles. It seemed to be a prevailing sentiment within her Japanese community, and this right here is her response.
This track is a kaleidoscope of emotions. It’s beguiling but powerful, groovesome and also fragile, confrontational yet forward-thinking. It’s the sound of hip-hop crafting a brand-new chapter for itself, and it’s doing so in the unique sonic handwriting of Eri Blossom.
Now, some wise guy once spouted, “East is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet.” Well, I hate to break it to you, pal, but this is the sound of the twain not just meeting but embracing, entwining, mingling, and marching forward as one unstoppable force. Deal with it.
