Montreal, Canada-raised emcee/producer Bamis reveals his new project Da Roll Up, which sees him taking back audiences to a time in hiphop when things were unique and different. Inspired by the early to mid-2000s, Bamis brings a refreshing take and energy to the game throughout 3 tracks as he channels his authentic self over hard-hitting beats that he made himself.
The first cut “Hustler” opens the floodgates with its anthemic soundscape reminiscent of Dre/G Unit collaborations in the past and is introduced by the following lines “I’m a hustler/I know you lying, only the real survive and you dead in the movie, you can stop acting, pls tell me who you fooling” sung in a playful melodic fashion. Bamis takes the perpetrators and fakers to the task and exposes their flaws for the world to see. On the other hand, he also reminds us of his work ethic as a hustler with lines like “I’m going to the roof, yeah I know how to grind, I can sell a pack of eggs to a farmer anytime/I’m always on the move, I keep a busy line/I step on grapes, put it in water and tell you it’s wine” which shows his intensity and edgy rap persona. This is followed by “In Da Ruff”, a menacing slapper of a cut that blends Timbaland/Neptunes-inspired aesthetics with its dark sound design and synth-driven drum grooves. Once again, Bamis goes for gold with his gruff and measure flow laced with vivid bars like “wash away my sins, the streets giving me back rubs/The backhand that the locomotive got tha back ends since the Motorola, fiends going up again like a rollercoaster/I keep up with the seeds, I ain’t no granola/I need me some cheese/I need that mozzarella”.
The EP closes out with “Street Life”, a west-coast style summer track comprised of rich basslines, lush and menacing synth textures and a smooth bounce. Overall, it sounds like something DPG would use but Bamis rises to the occasion with his street-savvy bars and go-getter mindset that shows he is a cut above the rest. He reminds us of having clear goals and avoiding distractions along the way.
Ultimately Da Roll Up is perfect because it encapsulates the different sounds of music in the 2000s with a modern twist. Bamis as a rapper is more than capable of holding his own and effortlessly makes mince meat of the soundscapes laid before him. The main issue I reckon everyone would have with this project is that it’s just too short like the legendary Bay area rapper.
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