Just Rese – HIPS

Oakland raised rapper and songwriter, Just Rese fuses together a collective sound of funk, hip-hop, and alternative R&B. Through self-awareness and honesty, Rese has tailored his music and songwriting, to what he calls an “unapologetic version of himself.” His talents and efforts have awarded the lyricist great support from media tastemakers like Revolt, The Deli, Earmilk, The Bay Bridged, SF Weekly and many more. Rese has also performed extensively across the Bay Area, in addition, to collaborating on projects with a plethora of Oakland artists, including fellow hometown native, and ‘Jentrify’ rapper, Elujay. Now, in 2018, Just Rese is ready to release his debut, ep ‘HIPS’ composed by Northern California producer, Wax Roof.

A project two years in the making, the libretto to HIPS is curated by Rese himself and features a seamless production composed of Wax Roof. The six tracker delves deep into a couple’s relationship, from its first hello to the final farewell, all while providing a scheme of phone call recordings between the couple. A cohesive project from start to end, HIPS hones in on Rese’s innate ability to tell stories and grabs the audience’s attention by addressing life experiences from his personal perspective. Beginning with the initial lovers and friends stage, on the ep’s first cut “Groov,” transitioning to the couple undergoing relationship complications on “Lyin,” to ultimately being unable to receive and understand love in such high capacity on ‘Holding on.’ Rese’s charismatic wit and melodic rhymes shine over a host of diverse sounds including chopped and screwed, low-temp hip-hop productions, rock-and-roll elements and live band influences that jazz heads, hip-hop enthusiasts, and R&B experts alike will find solace in.