Trek Manifest + The AYE-1 Band’s Tosca’s Boy Sessions Part 1 is a live Hip Hop album recorded at Natalie’s Grandview. Trek introduces Tosca’s Boy Session 1 like Jay-Z’s unplugged channeled Frank Sinatra performing at Harlem’s Club Sudan. Trek segues into call and responses which combine T.I. and Vince Staples hooks for familiarity.
Tosca’s Boy’s 1 introduction is a 6 minute long introduction of live rap concert. Tosca’s Boy’s Live Sessions 1 second song “Death Wish” reveals Trek Manifest’s backing group The AYE-1 Band’s sonic palette.
During the entire Tosca’s Boy Live Session 1, the AYE band contains a sophistication in jazz sound and arrangement reminiscent of a Hank Crawford classic. “All Black“ continued the live show experience like LA Symphony over a trap beat. “All I Know” is a ballad which brings us into the feeling of Tosca’s Boy Sessions 1.
Trek is working with his grief. Trek’s mom died 5 years ago. I think Trek said his mom died on his birthday. “Own” is a ballad about understanding a relationship with existence. “Own” is followed with an interlude with Trek’s mom’s culture.
Trek played drums in the church. The rap room rocking from earlier in the evening finds a spiritual continuum in audience participation. Trek leads a gospel church medley of “Come In/Chasing After You” which reveals a show conductor’s building call and response attribute which turns Natalie Grandview into a church choir/congregation.
Treks rocked Jazz And Ribfest and Comfest.
Tosca’s Boy Live Sessions 1 shows an understanding of music in Columbus Festival setting. Tosca’s Boy Live Sessions 1 also show an improvement for Trek as a rapper.
Trek Manifest eliminated a recent tendency of Kendrick Lamar-inspired vocal infliction during Trek’s raps. Biting Kendrick Lamar voice overshadowed Trek’s content.
I consider Tosca’s Boy Live Session’s refinement a necessary evolution. Trek thrives as an underground rapper instead of someone imitating whoever’s selling records.
Now, Trek Manifest conjures L.A.’s Project Blowed’s Abstract Rude, and Eliay Khule as if Freestyle Fellowship’s “Shammy” were a product of the L.A.’s natural influence on sound. I find this a creative leap which embodies Trek Manifest’s Columbus Organix. During the Tosca’s Boy Live Sessions 1, Trek sounds like an underground rapper which local culture texturizes.
I know Trek from his friendship with Daymon Dodson. The first time I saw Trek rap, Trek rocked with a young rap crew called Basic Element. Columbus, Ohio’s Basic Element were Trek’s group with several members of Fly Union. Basic Element were kinda like Pac Div. I knew Trek from Daymon’s church, Rhema.
Trek woodshed his delivery into an original voice for Tosca’s Boy Live Sessions 1. Daymon knew Christian rapper, Pigeon John of LA Symphony. Pigeon John released music with LA’s Project Blowed’s Abstract Rude.
Hip Hop culture has infinite possibilities of organic osmosis. Trek doesn’t sound exactly like Blowed or LA Symphony but it’s a fitting tailor in the genre of LA lyricism. Trek’s live album finale is affecting. Tosca’s Boy Live Sessions named is derived from Trek’s song “Tosca’s Boy.”
“Tosca’s Boy” in an endearing and authentic tribute to Trek’s mom in a spirit of 2Pac’s “Dear Momma.”
