Los Angeles based revolutionary R.O.E offers psychedelic timbre, potent, meticulous flows and articulate, profound writing on the jazz-influenced ‘Higher’. Blending elements of East and West Coast hip hop, whilst nodding to his roots, R.O.E has established an exciting sound, based around his poetic, impelling writing and cadenced, progressive instrumentals. A soulful and creative artist, R.O.E’s sonorous soundscapes and expressive wordplay merge on this latest single, which is arguably his strongest offering yet.

The instrumental revolves around atmospheric keys, that float around the sonic landscape, complimented by subtle, intruding synths, as well as marauding synth bass and boom-bap drums. The production is spacious and cloudy - well suited to the lyrical content - a perfect template for R.O.E to bring his aciculate, cutting flows. There is the clear influence of the likes of J Cole and Nas in the way the artist tells a story through not only the words but the delivery and flow. The lyrical content is vivid, detailed and delineative; while the theme is fairly generic for the genre of music, R.O.E offers stronger insight and deeper, richer imagery in comparison to other songs that have attempted similar narratives.

Full of talent and craft, R.O.E is one of the strongest newcomers in the American alternative hip hop sound. It seems a matter of time till audiences find and champion him - get ahead of the game and check him out now.