Album Review: The Dream Sequence – Young Gliss x De’Ko

Dreams hold a certain thematic resonance in hip hop. You find them littered throughout the verses of upstart and established rappers alike – “the dream” referenced constantly as the motivation keeping hip-hop artists going. In The Dream Sequence, budding locals Young Gliss and De’Ko meld the metaphor to reality, creating a loose concept record following a “dreamer drifting through various stages of sleep,” “realizing his inner aspirations and gaining an understanding of the energy it will take to achieve them,” and leaving the dream world “with the feeling that he has the strength to fulfill his destiny.”

Before going further, it’s important to recognize that this EP was recorded in a day, which means some of the lines are a little rawer and less polished than I’d probably prefer. The grandiosity of the concept doesn’t quite come through, but Gliss and De’Ko’s laidback, stoner flow is solid, punctuating even lackluster lyrics with rhythmic consonance. Even if the rhymes tend to go by without holding focus, they still work in the context of the EP because The Dream Sequence does not make them the focus.

While the concept warrants giving the lyrics some critical attention, The Dream Sequence is truly the show of producers Geez Seven and Les Professionels. The idea of a dream world stems from them. Clever samples bookending the album help maintain the narrative, and on the whole, their intricate, jazz-tinged beats create a hazy atmosphere reminiscent of those conjured by rjd2 and Nujabes. The skillful flows of Young Gliss and De’ko get woven into this fabric, complimenting the stellar production with another layer of rhythm. In headphones, the record hypnotizes. Its hooks are catchy, and its style mesmerizing. It also flies by; at fifteen minutes, the record refuses to be turned off until “Silver Dreams” fades out. The Dream Sequence has the sound to be huge, and perhaps a collaboration with these producers given more time could be. All things considered, though, The Dream Sequence is pleasing and consistent – a phenomenal sounding EP that, though not quite a successful metaphor, is an exciting, chill-as-fuck collaboration from the underground of Philly hip-hop.

You can catch Young Gliss and De’Ko chasing their dreams tonight at The Lengendary Dobbs for Jam House with Dice Raw, Rone, Black Stars and Nicos Gun. – Adam Downer