REEK | ’10 Toes Down’, An Emotional Banger
Atlanta artist Reek just dropped a certified hit. The track titled, ‘10 Toes Down‘ is a sad slapper front to back. It’s one of those tracks you sing your heart out to while driving in the middle of the night, but versatile enough to bump lustfully at parties. The track is melodically infused with tuneful verses and a hook with instant appeal. The simplistic production leaves a lot of room for Reek to shine. Reek masterfully times the chorus in conjunction with robust 808 and creatively placed kicks that vitalize the song in a major way. There is not a word wasted in this track. Every syllable has been delivered in a way to toy with your cochlea and vibrate your ear drums. Truly a masterful track by the artist.
I been 10 toes down, never left the flo’
It seems that an underlying theme of the song is to be true to yourself. Reek clearly doesn’t sway from his word and keeps himself honest. Although he remains honest, he doesn’t expect the same from his peers. He makes his moves knowing that there are fakes who are out to get him. The beautifully placed ad libs that permeate throughout the verses are panned creatively to give off the impression that Reek is right there in the room with you, in every corner gifting off an emotion to make you empathetic.
Shawty go a whole round, begging for some mo’
The Atlanta native draws inspiration from the entire musical spectrum, citing inspiration from highly touted hip-hop group OutKast all the way to The Fray, a soft rock group. Not a common citation among current rappers, but this is what makes him so unique. To be able to incorporate bits and pieces of multiple genres truly allows him to stand out in an area that is so used to monotony. His flow and vocal range allow for superb versatility, which he is not afraid to showcase regularly. To nobody’s surprise, the execution of this track was done beautifully, but we didn’t expect anything less.
Check out our exclusive interview with Reek below.
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Lets start with the basics. Where are you from and how did you get into hip-hop?
First I would love to thank you guys for the support. It really means the world to me. I’m from Atlanta, I moved from the west side of town to the east when I turned 7. I was always interested in all types of music and grew up listening to some of Atlanta’s greats like Shawty Lo and OutKast. I knew I wanted to be apart of music once my auntie got me an iPod Nano for my birthday. It was loaded with any music you can think of, ranging from The Fray to local artist’s. That’s the moment I knew that this was what I wanted to do.
How would you describe your sound to somebody who has no idea who you are?
What separates Reek from the average rapper trying to make it in todays game?
I think that I’m a real contender due to the fact that I pride myself on quality while remaining consistent. A lot of artist’s are not open minded to trying different sounds. I don’t want to be placed in a box.
Your vibe on ’10 Toes Down’ is clearly about a female your missing. Who is this song about?
She knows.
What were some lessons you learned from your love life that led you to making a track like ‘10 Toes Down’?
I learned that everyone isn’t as transparent as we’d like them to be and no matter how hard you try to keep something, it’s best to let go. Toxic relationships are emotionally and mentally draining and it’s best to leave. You can’t change someone who doesn’t care or refuses to change.
In your track ’10 Toes Down’, you say the words “I been 10 toes down, never left the floor.” What does this chorus mean to you?
I was basically saying no matter what changed between us I’ll still remain the same and I’ll always be here. That’s one of my biggest vices, I care way too much.
You also mention in that track “Things will get better as I move on, said that I’m okay but I been gone”. It seems like its common for people who are heart broken to pretend like everything is okay, when really it isn’t. Was this the situation for you?
You have your own unique style, in the way you blend catchy choruses with emotive inducing vibes, you remind us a bit of Juice WRLD. Who are some of your inspiration?
I listen to Juice WRLD a lot, he’s one of my favorite artist’s at the moment. I’m also a huge Drake fan. I’ve been listening to him since I was 12, I’m 21 now so he’s a big influence on my sound, the way he blends rapping and singing is amazing. Lil Uzi is also a big inspiration as well as Lil Peep, Thouxanbanfauni, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy. I also listen to a lot of Indie music. Ben Howard is someone I can listen to daily, and Dermot Kennedy, The Fray, The Xx. Music is my happy place so I like to give everything a chance. I could go all day on influences musically so I’ll stop it here.
We noticed that you’re Instagram handle is “1elcapo”, is this a nod to Mexican King Pin El Chapo? What does that name mean?
Definitely. The way he ran his empire and put his team on is intriguing. That’s the way I believe it should be. Making everyone a boss around me is one of my main focuses. That alone, making my mom proud, and the bliss of making music keeps me here.
What is the hardest part about being an independent artist for you?
The hardest part about being an independent artist is fighting for the attention to put you in the position to capture the light and actually do something with it. Budget is another big thing. It’s hard to get your name out there if you don’t have the funds. Music is an expensive business.
Whats next for you and what can we expect from Reek in 2019?
Hopefully a breakout song. Something that pushes me into the next tier of artistry so that I can send a message to the masses. In 2019, you can expect great music, more releases, and my supporters will be proven right. It only takes one song to get your name out and this year I’ll have that song.
