Less than two years since her first solo single was released, LA-based singer and rapper Samara Cyn is striking while the iron is hot with her debut project, The Drive Home. The road thus far for the Tennessee-born artist has been a unique one, to say the least, at first getting into music while in college and building upon her love for poetry and 90s hip-hop.
However, her drive fueled her to go well beyond the standout singles that already showed more than enough promise for someone just getting started, leading to her first full-length project, which shows off her best aspects and an opening spot for Nas on his latest tour. To go from listening to 90s hip-hop to being able to perform alongside a 90s legend says a lot about her progression, one with no signs of stopping.
“This is only the first EP,” said Cyn. “I think it’ll serve as a reminder for wherever I take it after this to always keep it raw and authentic. Keep the music homegrown.”
Consistent production style
Whether it’s the smooth bassline on “Rolling Stone,” featuring a Cyn flow that breezes by the beat about as easily as the rolling stone she sings about in the chorus, or the instrumental on “D’s Piano,” there’s no denying the songs belong to Cyn. Although mostly a nod to the producers behind the scenes, specifically D’Mile, who’s worked with everyone from Lucky Daye to Bruno Mars, it’s also a testament to her beat selection, where no track stands out in a glaring manner or goes against her distinct voice in an unflattering way.
If anything, sudden shifts in the instrumentals are because Cyn allows for it, either because her intensity rises or the subject matter requires gears to be switched. The ghoulish backing vocals on “Sinner” add variety to the project, often unified by a consistent, meditative sound but manages to pack a punch whenever needed. With a beat that hits hard through its heavy, swinging drums, Cyn doesn’t change up her vocals in the slightest, making the production work around her rather than the other way around.
Introspective hip-hop
When a majority of rap music is focused on vibes, Cyn’s focused pen is a welcome break from that formula. “100sqft” is her way of telling a past partner to keep their distance after they reveal their disloyalty. At the same time, she deconstructs their defensive behavior and wonders whether or not there were signs in the beginning. Even though the specifics of the situation are never revealed, the emotions couldn’t be more apparent when she’s forced to navigate sudden revelations while preserving her values. In that effort, she also preserves her style, not losing her cool or compromising.
Given the amount of times Cyn finds herself introspecting on the past, she interestingly opens “Chrome” with “I can’t tell you how I’m feelin’ right now.” Rather than describing how she’s feeling, she takes the focus away from herself and towards her surroundings, letting her actions speak instead of spelling them out. Eventually, she finds the words and talks about her place in music, neither optimistic nor pessimistic. The denial on her end to not fall prey to any emotional extreme speaks to her discipline as an artist who strives to convey herself in her day-to-day, something that’s far more relatable than looking at the worst or best moments.
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Sharp, subtle wordsmithing
What stands out most about Cyn is her ability to take on her inner thoughts and feelings to a vulnerable yet confident degree. Similar in tone to “Waves” by Joey Bada$$, another 90s worshiper, the introspective angle on “Entry #149” has become a signature for Cyn, who’s unafraid to look back at the past and relive memories in vivid detail. This time, she raps as if reading aloud a journal entry for the 149th day, pulling the listener in like they were interrupting a private moment. The “I’m getting beat up tryna fight back tears” chorus hits hard despite its relative simplicity, with the emotional vocals exhibiting how hard it is to reveal oneself to countless others.
The lyrics also manage to sneak up on you, not calling attention but still serving the themes at play. Although a largely braggadocious track, “Sinner” shows Cyn knows how to get deep without pulling away the focus from the overarching idea or bringing the energy to a grinding halt. When lyrics like “I’m a hoochie, I’m a sellout” follow “I’m the new-age Eve,” she’s able to convey her complexity and unapologetic nature by simply describing herself through her paradoxical traits, a subtle yet effective method.
Between now and the release of “Moving Day” back in May, Cyn has been moving at hyperspeed. Despite having a few singles to her name, she dropped a new song leading up to The Drive Home, all of which expanded what she had already established in one way or another. Along with the project’s release and opening for Nas on his Illmatic 30th-anniversary tour, it’s safe to say Cyn is doing a whole lot of things right, all of which will pay off in the long run.
Words: David Sosa
Visit Samara Cyn on her Instagram and TikTok to stay updated on new releases and tickets to potential shows.
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