Shock the World, Part 2 sees Coolhandtrew and Toddfromdaspot bringing their own collaborative brand of R&B that’s a little spunky, a little gooey, and at times, dare we say, a little joyful. Self-described as the “soundtrack to your quiet hour”, Coolhandtrew and Toddfromdaspot bring a combination of melodic warmth and edge with rap that’s vivid and fresh. 3 of the 5 tracks in this EP are under 3 minutes, demonstrating these two artists have a penchant for punchy R&B hooks that stick to the point. The pair never make things too complicated and champion a sound that’s sure to win you over in very little time.
The EP kicks off with “Next to Me”, a 2 and a half minute, silky smooth R&B track that gently eases us into the sound of the band. It’s a warm and comforting invitation to the EP, in just the way the singer calls on the object of his affections to come pull up next to him. The song construction is strong here, and it ends before lingering too long, allowing the listener to keep moving on to the following tracks of the EP without delay.
Now that we’ve been warmed up, Trew and Todd come at us with a much bolder stance in “Can’t Figure You Out”, the EP’s second track. Featuring a thick bass and warm keyboard carrying the chords, the song starts with the refrain, turning conventional song structure on its head. The sense of urgency is palpable here, as the singer struggles to figure out whether his girl is truly in or out of a relationship with him. The sharply plucked bass line and brisk movement of the track embody that anxious feeling of not really knowing what’s happening in a romantic situation.
Track 3, “Shock The World”, is the namesake of the EP and contains a more winding chord progression. The track is sentimental but also a bit risqué, featuring a physical fitness motif that has the artist gushing over his lover’s body. Even though the central theme of the lyrics is physical love, the musical choices here are tender, creating that feeling of being deeply enthralled with someone’s whole being, both body and soul. This combination of moods feels like Coolhandtrew and Toddfromdaspot’s signature style of R&B at its core.
“Bundle Up” starts with a more introspective style and an ambient synth. The warm, enveloping sound mirrors the theme of the lyrics: “I know we’ll find a way, a way to keep us warm everyday”. At four minutes and thirteen seconds, this one has a little more room to breathe than the others on the EP.
The final track, “Make Me Feel” starts off in a similar fashion as track 2, with the refrain coming in ahead of the verse. This time, a female vocal carries the day, creating a sense of call and response between the artist and object of his affections. The rapping that follows feels a bit like the Black Eyed Peas, with a delivery style and tone that made us nostalgic for earlier days of the genre.
All in all, you can count on infectious hooks, warm and gooey sentimentalism, and a classic early 2000s style hip hop edge in Coolhandtrew and Toddfromdaspot’s “Shock The World, Pt. 2” EP. The two have created a sound that’s easy to get hooked on, and their lyrics tell stories of romance that should be familiar to most.
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