On March 26, 2018, eccentric Chicago collective DIAL UP released their debut project on SoundCloud; DIAL UP CD (side A). The 12 track project is filled with energetic tracks that showcase the versatility of all the members, from the intricate production to the well written and lyrical verses. The project starts off with one sound, but within the very next song reverses whatever expectations listeners may have, keeping the tracks feeling refreshing and new as the tracklist continues. This showcase of creativity is only made stronger by the short run time of the project. Running at roughly 40 minutes, DIAL UP understand the importance of taking out any filler material and only provide listeners with incredibly high quality music.
Starting off the track list is one of the strongest songs on the project, “Knoxville.” The quirky, up tempo production features unconventional vocal chops that pan left and right incredibly fast, backed by more traditional trap percussion. The high energy carries through on the verses, with vocalists Dave Prime and Magic Williams matching the beat with their fast-paced hilarious lyrics. Just one track in, and it is easy to understand why DIAL UP’s future looks so bright. In the current trap dominated climate, DIAL UP stand out. Instead of trying to follow current trends, they are forming their own lane, with highly experimental and light-hearted music, and moments of hilarity laced through the project, such as the second track “Shad Moss.”
“Shad Moss” is technically not a track, rather a skit, but its importance cannot be understated. The 50 second clip of two men arguing over their basketball skills adds incredible amounts of personality to the project, only further enhancing the atmosphere as a whole. Furthermore it provides the perfect break, before the collective transition flawlessly into the new track “Take A Picture” led by Jemal Four. Despite the fact that Four is the only vocalist on the track, his ability to manipulate his cadence and flow make it seem like a song full of features. He effortlessly moves from his fast paced rapping, to his guttural delivery, singing “Take a Picture”, to the pitched down, spoken word style flow of the bridge, which includes one of the funniest lines of the project; “What can I do, I’m married to the money, I say yes I do.”
After three tracks of funny lyrics, and light hearted beats, “Riverside High” defies expectations, and slows down to create a more moody atmospheric track. The RnB style claps, match with the quiet whisper like flows of Magic Williams shape together the perfect track to slow down the pace of the album and relax the listener. Juno Park follows with a more intensive verse, and although it is faster paced, it still carries the tone of the track incredibly. The track then ends with Bria singing a beautiful ballad, providing the perfect dreamy ending to such a remarkable track.
DIAL UP do not let up as the tracklist continues, on “Dipset” Dave Prime and Archie Blocka switch back and forth rapping alongside each other, elevating what is already a solid track. Jemal Four brings back the insanity on Classic Portrait, rapping “Johnny using pussy as extortion” in a contrasting calm demeanor. “Slapbox Champ” sounds exactly like what a stereotypical DIAL UP track would sound like – in the best way possible. Jemal Four’s opening verse is a standout for its weird unexpected turns, but Magic and Archie Blocka are not very far behind either. “Static” stands out, if not for any reason other than the fact that it is the first time listeners hear Bria and FreePlanet actually rap, something that they do a very good job at.
Track number ten, Promo / Lyft Home (Demo) features the most vocalists, with features from Dave, Archie, Bria, Jemal and Jack Crackstone and production to match the large number of people. It starts with Archie repeating the word “Promo” over an electronic beat, but quickly switches to a more hazy beat. Accompanying the change in production, Bria reappears to show her talent. She sings for over a minute, perfectly meeting the tone of the beat, creating one of the most emotional sections of the entire project. Despite a beat switch already, DIAL UP switch the beat again, this time going back to a more aggressive style. Jemal Four and Jack Crackstone rap over the distorted beat continuing the streak of funny and engaging verses, rapping lines like “Gotta clean my act up, homie the shampoo”.
The project ends with the hypnotic track Jerly and the instrumental break of the outro “Credits.” Overall the vast amount of versatility and skill shown on DIAL UP CD are incredibly impressive. Despite still being small, the production value showcased is up to par with some of the best mixing and mastering in the industry and show no evident weaknesses. Looking past everything else, the most important aspect of DIAL UP is their uniqueness. They do not try to imitate anything else in the rap world, and their aesthetic is very bold and perfectly executed. If they continue to create projects like DIAL UP CD, DIAL UP are sure to find much more success in the coming years. Take a listen to the full project below.