Parris LaVon drops new EP

Originally hailing from Southern Maryland and now based in Los Angeles, Parris LaVon is an alternative hip hop on the rise. For nearly a decade, he’s been sharing his sonic vision, brought to life by his creativity, talent and sheer determination, resulting in an impressive output that’s struck a chord with fans across the USA and around the world.

First unveiling his sound in 2016 with the debut record Winter, he’s since delivered an incredible catalogue across multiple well-received singles, EPs and full-length albums. His latest project titled CRY 4 C4NCER arrives as perhaps his most personal body of work to date. The four-song EP is born from heartbreak, created in the aftermath of losing his mother to cancer, channelling grief into a moving and powerful release that shows him at both his most vulnerable and his most defiant.

It’s a project that chronicles pain and transforms it into a declaration of strength and perseverance, captured in a slick hip hop sound. Across the EP, his lyricism cuts deeper than ever, every line carrying the weight of his own experience where at times he speaks from a place of hurt, revealing the depths of sorrow that come with losing a parent and at other moments, he raps with fire and defiance, using his loss as fuel to stride forward in the pursuit of his dreams.

This context of pain and strength, mourning and ambition runs throughout CRY 4 C4NCER, making it one of the most compelling chapters of his musical journey. Wrapped up in exquisite production, he balances high-energy beats and cinematic backdrops with hard-hitting rhythms that underscore the theme of his message. That interplay of production and lyricism distils how he fights to keep moving forward despite the devastation.

Set up by opening track “FREE,” airy instrumental tones flutter through a dreamy soundscape as Parris’ commanding rapped delivery enters to spin profound lyrical writing through the hazy sonic fabric. With the punch of the beat, he injects a steady groove that carries the track forward with smooth motion as his emotive vocal performance glides above. With a mood switch up half way through, the track floats through a delicate R&B style scene where his meaningful words and elegant vocals hit home in a stripped back setting.

“Thru Da Hook 3” casts a vintage aesthetic where his mellow vocals spin intricate melodic leads carrying storytelling lyricism above a minimal arrangement that pairs softly pulsing rhythm with winding lead guitar flickers. With “Chasin (Ghosts),” he serves up a smokey hip hop jam that rolls with the crisp snap of a laid back beat, immersive instrumentation and razor-sharp vocal performance, resulting in a sound that’s emphatic, engaging and moving all at once.

Closing the release with “Dive In The Water,” soft piano notes are met with his rapid rapped bars and gentle rattle of percussion, forming an incredible contrast between his powerful voice and tender instrumentation. It’s a stunning finale that threads his achingly emotive lyrics through a gripping sound, concluding CRY 4 C4NCER in spectacular fashion.

Listen to CRY 4 C4NCER below