·January 23, 2025·2 min read

‘John Was Here’ by R.sinik is a Hip-Hop Album that Captures A Dynamic Myriad of Emotion

‘John Was Here’ by R.sinik is a 10-track mellow hip-hop album filled with sharp observations and witty wordplay. The album’s soundscape oscillates from dissonant to intense, with moments of ripping clarity that ebb through this sonic narrative.

Each track makes an observation that has this air of reflection, with our narrator(s) on each taking on this voice that reason in some, observant in others.

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‘John Was Here’: Track-by-Track

‘John Was Here’: ‘One More Round’- ‘Bla Bla Bla’

The first track, ‘One More Round’ is a short intro to the album that sets its tone and mood. Its sound and lyric are active movement through observation, with the narrator taking on this detached air while we (the listener) viscerally feels what’s unfolding without interfering.

‘Full Circle’ follows in this vein, with its instrumentation and off-beat hook. Witty wordplay quickly whisks by while this distant sense of dissonance begins to set in. ‘Flex’ introduces guitars to the soundscape and a prominent percussion. Rhythm, rhyme and wordplay are at the forefront of this track.

‘Runnin’ highlights this sense of disparity and this ebbing sense of loss, that seemingly dictates behaviour. “…I’m always on the run but I don’t know why…”. This while ‘Bla Bla Bla’ uses its bass and percussion to reflect on the disparity found in this sense of loss. “…Another person’s thoughts from the land of the lost…”.

‘John Was Here’: ‘SW 6th’- ‘Thanks A Lot’

‘SW 6th’ is a dynamic sonic observation that never feels static. Each observation on the track is accompanied by a sharp reflection as images and moments seem to pass one by. ‘Chaos Theory’ focuses on loss, with a calm instrumentation that seems to capture & highlight the absurdity in the situation the narrator is in.

‘Tell Me’ captures a calm intensity, that highlights the unsettling pressure of not knowing something. ‘Cancelled’ strings the listener along on this dynamic journey with vibrant guitars, slow percussion and a kinetic, quick flow.

‘Thanks A Lot’ bookends the album, with this calm air that captures this spectrum of emotion rooted in uncertainty. “…And all that’s left to say is ‘thanks a lot!’”.

‘John Was Here’ by R.sinik seems to capture emotion and thought in this dynamic way, using witty wordplay and instrumentation to keep the listener engaged.

The Artist

R.sinik is a lyricist & producer from Portland, Oregon. He’s known for his politically-driven, socially-concious lyrics, intricately layered, multisyllabic rhyme schemes & wordplay.

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