Visions Of A Country Boy, American Dreamin'

Emerging Reading rapper Raks constructs his creative space in debut EP Visions Of A Country Boy, American Dreamin’, showcasing not just his talent, but his artistry too. 

Perfecting his flow and cadence over the EP, the rapper taps into the 80s/90s era of East Coast hip hop over these three tracks, as he tackles current social issues in the UK, as well as his stance on street crime.

Not only was the project recorded in New York, but it also comes with a visual project shot by VisionaryVisionLLC in NY too. Accompanying the old school sounds of the EP, we witness Raks roaming the streets of Brooklyn as he steps into iconic neighbourhood Bed-Stuy. 

The emcee introduces himself to the rap scene without a stutter, as he raps with a fast-paced flow, painting a picture of his journey so far – “Plagued in drugs, violence, guidance, the words of counterparts by taking in the devils dance, I tangle because I take two.’

He possesses endless bars as he spits on 90s/early 2000s influenced beats, suggesting the impact those two eras have had on him. The independent artist, hailing from Reading, effortlessly captures the intelligent lyricism and bravado of a past era.

On Visionary Manoeuvre, Raks explores just how far he’s really willing to go to chase his dream of being a musician. Rapping on a Roots Manuva sampled beat, Raks demonstrates his ability to experiment with his sound, whilst hinting at grime influences like Ghetts. 

Closing the three track EP with a feature from Worthy, on Worthy Dolla & a Dream, the guest rapper keeps his verse short and sweet, complimenting Raks’ raps, who continues to style on a beat that’s accompanied with strings samples, and rhythmic drums. The wordsmith keeps it real, whilst circling back to themes of the project like being undercut in pursuit of your dreams. 

Listen to the EP below.