Doley Bernays – Just In Case EP

In an internet world so inundated with tons and tons of artists, it’s both exciting and slightly overwhelming to sort through the massive amounts of music put out every day. Tougher still is it to find music that truly moves us, and even more difficult to be moved by that same artist consistently. In hip-hop, Chicago rapper Chance the Rapper might have been the most recent newcomer to really make a lasting impression with his bold and playful project Acid Rap. New York emcee Doley Bernays seems poised to make a similar breakthrough.

His debut release Just In Case is the type of cohesive project you listen to and become pleasantly surprised a few songs in, because you weren’t necessarily sure if he’d deliver. He raps with ease and bravado over the atmospheric ‘Just In Case/ReeLife Sound,’ his cutting voice an interesting yet complimentary match to Chromatics’ vocoded vocals. Bernays seems to be most comfortable the darker the production, courtesy of his henchman MP Williams, whose excellent production appears on all 12 songs – fully producing 8 and co-producing the other four.

Just In Case is a main stage for Bernays to tell gripping tales of growing up in the rough streets of the Bronx, which he frequently dubs the ‘darkside’ – hence the title of the second track, ‘Darkside Glow’. Here, he experiments with his delivery, though he does so very rarely aside from the speed-shifting ‘Waking Up To Day Dreams’. Changes and experimentation in delivery are two things that lack a bit from the record. Single standouts like the beautiful piano-driven ‘Till We Fall’ and ‘Drown’ (produced by Drake’s ‘Pound Cake’ producers Jordan Evans and Matthew Burnett, along with DZL and Williams) show mainstream crossover potential while still preserving the sound Bernays has made his own.

‘I Know Pain’ is easily the most riveting and eye-opening story on the project. Euro League and Doley Bernays exchange stories of painful memories, from League’s grandmother’s disease and Bernays’ son’s seizures, to a Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ tale of deceit and murder among those Bernays considered friends. The tale leads into the smooth, Flight Facilities-sampling ‘Funerals & Release Dates,’ which addresses the cold reality of Doley’s surroundings – many of Doley’s peers fall victim to death or prison.

Quite an impressive detail that shouldn’t be overlooked is the seamless production that makes Just In Case a strong body of work. MP Williams has clearly taken his time, crafting progressive backdrops where no two sound the same, yet arranging sounds so each song flows effortlessly into the next. The two definitely have a rare bond, which makes the music they’ve made that much more exciting to hear.