Wesley Rocco - Words to Myself EP: My track by track review + Bonus track review

Cover Art for "Words to Myself EP"

Wesley Rocco. Wesley Rocco is an up and coming artist from Texas, who is fairly new to the game. And judging from his write up on Google Plus,  this is his first official project that he has professionally released on iTunes, Spotify etc. Now, truth be told, I don't know much about this artist personally. Don't get me wrong, I interact with him on a social media app called "Google Plus" (G+) and while I've had some back and forth discussion with him about mostly hip hop related things, it's not like I can go to a wikipedia page and read up on his real name, date of birth or anything of that nature. This means, in reality, I have no real personal knowledge about this artist going into this project. I did hear a track he did called '1992' last year and I remember liking it, so I figured, why not try out this project? I'm only a few months late, and he's supposed to be dropping another EP soon so might as well see what all this music is about...

One thing I do know is, the man has a genuine passion for hip hop and its culture, that much I know. He hosts (or at least used to host) hip hop related events on Google plus like battle rapping events and he does (or used to do) little hip hop fun facts where once a day he would post hip hop related facts like "on this day Eminem released so and so" see where I'm going with this? I can tell he likes hip hop for hip hop, he's not just trying to make a quick buck or get famous.

I can also guess from hearing that '1992'  track and from seeing some of his comments on hip hop related things on the G+ app, that he prefers the more lyrical side of hip hop. Wesley Rocco is more closer to say a Q Tip from A Tribe Called Quest rather than a Lil Uzi Vert or Famous Dex. And I definitely prefer artists who also pay attention to their lyrics in addition to the mood of the song.

So yeah, Wesley Rocco, Words to Myself EP, let's hear it...

1. Fly

Right off the bat, this guy reminds me of a really young sounding Logic (the maryland rapper) and I can hear some Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest in his voice as well. This is a nice sounding introduction track. I like how he utilizes vocal pitch shifted, chopped and screwed effects on his voice. I mean, it makes sense since he's from Texas after all. The beat is low key and piano driven which is good, cause it allows Wesley to be front and center to the listener in order for him to make a proper introduction as an artist. Now, as far as subject matter is concerned, it's nothing you haven't heard before. Typical "Yo wassup it's [Insert artist here] and I'm from/reppin'/straight outta [Insert state, city, area code, etc.]" which, in his defense, you sort of have to do when you're a brand new artist and the majority of people listening don't really know who you are. But yeah, he's rhyming and lets you know a little bit about himself, which is what you need to do for an intro as a brand new artist or an artist that not many people have heard about. I have no qualms about this track, but it's nothing really to write home about either.

2. All We Wanna Do

Uh oh! Wesley gets on his "turn up" tip on this track. I really appreciated him taking the time to switch his flow up throughout this track. Keeps it interesting enough for me to listen all the way through and not get bored. However, I can tell that he's a newer artist as sometimes he tries to cram a few too many rhyming words in his verses while he's doing the fast flow and it makes it sound like he's slurring his words. I know Wesley's not intentionally slurring but when Wesley starts increasing the speed at which he rhymes it starts to sound that way. Specifically the line when he goes "how you player 1 when you never fit in..." and the lines after that sound too crammed together and as a result it doesn't sound good. Since I compare Wesley to Logic, why not use Logic as an example of what to sound like when switching up to a faster flow? Take for example, the flow used at the end of Logic's song "Gang Related" [linked here]. Notice how, even though Logic is flowing very fast, every word he's enunciating is clearly audible. Now, when I hear the faster flow "All We Wanna Do" (specifically the first verse) even on repeated listens I still struggle to make out exactly what Wesley is saying. The words just sound too cluttered on that first verse. The flow at the end of that "Gang Related" song I think illustrate a fast flow done to perfection.

Even though, I appreciate the different flow switch ups in this song, it's clear that Wesley just needs more practice with them, and improving the flow just comes with time. By releasing more songs, and rapping more and more on a consistent basis. He'll get there soon enough. For what's it's worth, this track isn't a bad track, it's actually decent, but I'm not going to remember it, even a week from now.

3. Shine

I like the production on this track. A simple drum and bass with a small, soulful vocal sample in the background is a recipe for a great hip hop beat. So far, it's clear that Wesley can rap, but I would've appreciated more information about himself personally. I mean, he mentions his "Ashanti" which I can assume means his significant other, but what else can I gather from this track so I can feel like I know a little bit more about Wesley Rocco? I mean aside from the usual "it's my time now, I deserve the shine now" type lines. Yeah, rhyming words are nice, everyone loves a dope rhyme, but I'm trying to remember the name Wesley Rocco and this song isn't helping. It's a nice sounding track, but it's not really memorable enough for me to say anything really good about it. Similar to the last 2 tracks, it sounds nice, but nothing sticks out enough to elevate pass "it's alright". Best thing I can give this track props for is the production but even then I don't really have that much to say about it other than "it's alright". Everything about this track is in the middle. Which isn't bad thing for a brand new, up and coming artist, it just means there's more room for improvement on all fronts. Make the lyrics more personal, make production more layered etc. Things that I typically like to see in an artist's future projects.

4. I'm Just Saying

This happens to me a lot. The track I like most on a project, for some reason, always seems to be the shortest track on the project, and it's annoying. I won't hold it against Rocco though as that was just an observation I made to myself but anyway "I'm Just Saying" is hands down my favorite track on this entire EP. I like how Wesley was clearly focused on a song topic and was not just spewing random, unrelated bars. The mentions of how people are forced to sell blow in the ghetto in order to escape it in addition to him mentioning the issue of police brutality as well as other social inequalities was great. I also appreciate the variation in production too. That added tambourine in the second verse was a really nice touch. The hook was good too. But like I said in the beginning, mad short, that song could've easily had a 3rd verse added to it. But that's just what I wanted, obviously Wesley wanted the songs short for a reason. But this is what I'm talking about, I got to know more about Wesley Rocco and how he views the world around him. I felt like I related to Wesley Rocco for the very first time in 4 tracks. That's the feeling I would've liked to have throughout this EP. Not only just now on the 4th track. 

But yeah, short and sweet track, as well as being the best track on this EP.

5. Already 

My favorite beat on this EP. I like the unusual instrument playing through it (Can't think of the name of the instrument used in the beat). But yeah this was good, my 2nd favorite track on here. Definitely a league above the first 3 tracks on this EP. Damn, was Wesley just getting warmed up? The beat on here hits the hardest, and Wesley's delivery is on point. I wish he would've switched up the flows on here like he did on "All We Wanna Do" he would've really killed this track if he did that, but as it stands, "Already" is another good track, better than the first 3 tracks but not as good as "I'm Just Saying".

6. Alright Here

I think Wesley should switch up the tone of his voice more. He sounds the same on the hook as he does on his verses, which I'm not sure is done on purpose or not. But I remember how on his track "Shine" he made a point to really emphasize the "Hell Yeah! It's my time now!" and you can actually hear the enthusiasm in his voice. On this track, Wesley doesn't sound as excited, in fact he sounds monotone in that he keeps the same tone throughout the entire track. "Feelin' like we did it!" sounds celebratory on paper but when rapped out loud by Wesley it sounds like he's reading a book report to a classroom or something like that. More variation in tone and emphasis would've been appreciated, Wesley. 

Overall, it was a decent first attempt from a brand new, up and coming artist. From what I can tell this was really Wesley's first real project that he released to the public, and it's honestly not bad. If he can go more in the direction of songs like "I'm Just Saying" and less in the direction of songs like "All We Wanna Do" than I think he'd be better off for doing that. Wesley, I feel, is at his best when he has a clear and focused topic that he can rap about. Bonus points if it's about a very real problem affecting our world today. "I'm Just Saying" showed me an artist who can make a catchy track that also addresses real world issues in addition to having an overall message. What "All We Wanna Do" showed me is an artist who's not afraid to try to be versatile in flow but needs improvement in the delivery of different flows in order to be versatile in a good way and not a bad way. Wesley shows potential, but my biggest gripe about this project is how forgettable this project is. It's not horrid, it's not great, it's just "okay" and I won't remember this project for any long period of time, much like a lot of other hip hop projects which is rather unfortunate. But it's alright as this new artist has showed glimpses of greatness and hopefully he can keep improving until he drops that future classic that I can look at and go "Yo, I remember when he first dropped this forgettable little EP" cause that's largely what I find this EP to be. Some nice potential, but ultimately forgettable.

The Good: 

~ Nice, rhyming lyrics, Wesley proves that he can actually rap and not just mumble like other certain newer artists.

~ Shows great potential when focusing on a clear song topic. 

~ Not afraid to experiment (whether it'd be rapping with a myriad of flows or rapping on a variety of different sounding instrumentals)

The Bad:

~ Newer artist, expect some rougher or not as smooth flows that you're accustomed to hearing from more seasoned artists.

~ Songs where it's just bar after bar or line after line do not have much of an impact.

~ Wesley proves he can rap, but doesn't really reveal that much about himself through his lyrics.

Closing words: Wesley Rocco's EP "Words To Myself" doesn't really do that much to offend but doesn't do that much to attract either. It falls somewhere in the middle, where unfortunately, a lot of hip hop music ends up. Not that bad, but not that good. 

Favorite Track: I'm Just Saying

Least Favorite Track: All We Wanna Do

Score: 5/10

Listen to Wesley Rocco's "Words to Myself - EP" here.

Oh SNAP! It's a BONUS TRACK REVIEW!

Wesley Rocco - Misunderstood [Prod. By Homage]

Artwork for the track "Misunderstood"

This man is slowly but surely, improving on all fronts. First, his flow has improved in a good way. Flow still isn't perfected however, it feels robotic in some parts of the track, like he's reading off something (it doesn't matter if he actually is reading off something, the point is, it shouldn't sound like he's reading off something).  Second, the production is more hard hitting and memorable, I don't know if this is because he used a different producer than the one he used on the "Words to Myself - EP" or what the case may be. But I definitely dig this production way more on this track than anything on the EP I just reviewed. 

On the track Wesley says he's not "preaching" but rather "teaching" and the thing is, Wesley is just saying things that the listener should be doing, and doesn't really relate anything back to himself, making himself seem preachy like a nagging mother. Here's an example of telling people to do the right thing without coming off as a preachy rap pastor. Lupe Fiasco's song "The Show Goes On" [linked here] is a perfect example of a rap song that inspires positivity without coming across as corny or preachy. I want to point out the specific part where Lupe relates what he is preaching back to himself when he goes

"Yeah, yeah, the world is yours, I was once that little boy"

"Terrified of the world, now I’m on a world tour"

"I would give up everything, even start a world war"

"For these ghetto girls and boys I’m rapping round the world for"

"Africa to New York, Haiti, then I detour"

"Oakland out to Auckland, Gaza Strip to Detroit"

"Say hip-hop only destroy, tell ‘em look at me, boy"

"I hope your son don’t have a gun and never be a d-boy"

Notice how Lupe tells you that "the world is yours" and then uses himself as an example of how when someone follows their goals or dreams that they too can be a positive influence. That's how you rap without coming across as preachy, you, as the artist have to relate to the person listening by putting yourself in their shoes so that you can tell them your positive message without coming across as a person who has never made a mistake. I do think there needs to be more hip hop music with a positive message but the problem is, a lot of the time it gets ignored because the artist who is making the music with the positive message comes across as condescending  and it repels the listener cause it's like "Who are you? To be talking down to me?" And a lot of people including myself, don't like to feel like they are being talked down to. You negate this feeling by using yourself as an example as to how you went from being just like them, to now being a successful artist. 

Went off on a bit of a tangent there, but there needs to be a distinction made between positive music that works and positive music that's corny, preachy, lame etc.

But yeah, with "Misunderstood" I can definitely see an improvement within Wesley Rocco's flow and production which is a great thing, it means he is actively working on his craft.

I'd give this track a 5.5/10

Listen to Wesley Rocco's "Misunderstood" track (Prod. by Homage) here.

Migos "Culture" review still coming though!

-Joe