Channel Tres’ Real Cultural Shit is a celebration of togetherness

Originally planning to release a different project that would be his first full-length album, the EP instead follows a similar format as the rapper’s previous projects – smaller collections of tracks that are emblematic of a specific sound and vision. On i can’t go outside, it was his addiction-riddled lethargy amidst the pandemic, on refresh it was a way to work through his self-imposed isolation.

This time it’s a dancefloor somewhere along the West Coast, with Tres standing front and centre. Perhaps it was coming out of the pandemic that shone such a bright light on social spaces for Tres, or more importantly finding his sobriety in the making of the project. In turn, he is able to sharply recreate the euphoric feeling of a night harbouring a world of possibilities, whether it’s through the consistently tight production or Tres’ own insistence; “we ain’t leaving / ‘til six in the morning.”

Beyond the surface of the album’s sometimes repetitive nature lies Tres’ real intentions – a desire to look deeper into his relationships. On “All My Friends” he looks back on good times he can no longer get back: “life in our lap / time always miss you,” echoing the sentiments of LCD Soundsystem’s own homonymous dancefloor anthem – an artist that Tres cited as a strong influence in the making of the album.

Moreover, he goes deeper into his own image, expressing a need for us to “just look at me for who I am”, questioning the presentation of himself throughout his career. On “Big Time” he likens himself to TuPac and Prince, choosing artists that both had a cultural impact on the genres that are intertwined in RCS’s sound. But beyond their influences on West Coast hip-hop or modern pop music respectively, their identities undoubtedly remain integral to their legacies - an achievement that Tres inches closer to as he continues down his path of self-discovery. Until then, we’re left with the last echoes of EP’s closing track, fading as many depart from the dancefloor, but ultimately leaving Tres to party on until the early hours of the morning.