iVPokko | “Red Eye Tape”, NY Grit On The Rise
iVPokko recently released “Red Eye Tape” on September 25, 2020 & the 10-track album is filling soundwaves with sonic pleasure. It’s no surprise that the Central Islip rapper resides in New York, where a heap of young talent is brewing. With this project release, it’s clear that iVPokko is stepping to the forefront of NY sound & paving a new lane than his melodic counterparts. iVPokko brought back real NY grit with this album. We’re used to seeing the Lil Tjay’s & A-boogie’s of NY, but iVPokko is channeling the real rap energy that reminds us of the Big L’s, Hov’s and Nas’s.
If you wanted real rap, “Red Eye Tape”, is jam-packed with fluid bars & snarky verses. Right out the gates with “Talk To Me Nice”, iVPokko lets his authentic NY accent shine & uncovers a fury of bars. It totes the type of swagger people think of when they think New York. It’s braggadocious, gritty, and more importantly authentic. On “Copy”, he calls out old flames & unleashes an arsenal of complex flows. Stagnant is not a word to describe, iVPokko’s overall sound- dynamic is the right one. He can dive in & out of exceptionally quick verses only to stop on a dime & slow the pace. That signature style shines on “Armageddon”, in combination with the punchy trap instrumental that highlights the chaos.
As if he wasn’t repping New York enough, he throws it back to the Queensbridge legend Nas, and pays tribute on “Red Eye Freestyle”, with punchlines that are sure to make you rewind. In one pocket, he rattles off estrogen bars that take shots at feeble-minded rappers who aren’t man enough. One quality that every NY persona has, is the ability to talk trash. And iVPokko intertwines that ability with intricate wordplay, instantly raising his stock as an artist.
Possibly one of his best records on the album, “Foreign”, raises the bar. It showcases a confident iVPokko toting a dramatic flow that highlights rich bounce. It’s the record you throw on when you’re trying to get the homies hyped up, but versatile enough to get the females involved promptly. It’s got shake, flavor & style. As most records on the project align with iVPokko’s rap-first mentality, we wanted to know what sparked the passion for “Red Eye Tape”, and iVPokko noted,
My first project “Out The Blue” was a collection of songs that had fresh and up beat vibes, i wanted my second project “Red Eye Tape” to reflect a more aggressive and gritty side of me… heavily influenced by NY drill with my own twist to it… I honestly felt like it was some energy i needed to get off my chest to be able to move on… My cousin 100bandAP from Queens produced “Stubborn”, my guy A2 from Coram produced “Copy” and my engineer Echo where i recorded the majority of this project also produced “Foreign” and flipped the classic Nas track “It Aint Hard To Tell” in my track “Red Eye Freestyle” … where i tried to give this legendary song as much justice as i can… Had a lot of fun making that one. Also the last track “Spooky” was produced by Saw. – iVPokko
Having been recording for 6 years professionally, it’s clear that the picture is starting to piece together for iVPokko. His sound is seasoned, intricate & is slowly garnering attention. Outside of his records, he’s been consistently honing on his #SundayServiceFreestyle segments, where he drops a few minute clips weekly of him obliterating beats in his whip. He’s tackling aspects at all angles, and it’s this type of hustle that defines him. His stage name was even derived from IV medical bags used in hospitals to restore life to individuals who need it, which he told us is what he’s trying to do to the rap game.
Overall, “Red Eye Tape” was a pleasantly pieced listen from cover to cover. It flashed bars, mainstream appeal & the unique grit we all know & love. With two projects under his belt with “Red Eye Tape, and “Out The Blue”, iVPokko doesn’t plan on stopping soon. He’s got a new project called “Grass Is Greener” that focuses on growth, and elevation & if “Red Eye Tape” is any indication, we know we’re in for a treat. Every track from the artist contrasts nicely from the previous, with no 2 records sounding similar- and that’s what you’d like to expect from growing talent. For now, you’ll have to stream “Red Eye Tape” on your favorite platform & follow iVPokko on Instagram for more.
Stream “Red Eye Tape” below:
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