“1965” is a consuming track released today from Johnnie Beamon, a hip-hop artist from Las Vegas. The track strives to take the listener “into the mind of a young black man that believes he is about to lose his life at the hands of a police officer.” The murky beat accompanies lyrics that reflect a yearning for forgiveness and acceptance, with a retrospective feel conveyed well by the artist’s intense delivery. The “roof on fire,” bit at 01:11 amps the intensity up, with increasing rhythmic intensity. Vocal pitch fluctuation and spacey synth arps and pads help comprise a very satisfying conclusion. Overall, “1965” is a very strong showing from Johnnie Beamon, who cements himself as a rising hip-hop act with ample talent in both flow and atmosphere.
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“1965” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of May 2019’ Spotify playlist.
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Indie Hip-Hop and Rap.
