Cory Rhymal gets direct w/ release “Deja vu”

Cory Rhymal has always moved like an MC who understands that making a record and building a world are two completely different things. His music has consistently leaned reflective, calculated, and sometimes intentionally uncomfortable, pulling from lived experiences without feeling the need to over explain them. That approach has helped Cory carve out his own pocket within Chicago’s music ecosystem, and this latest record feels like another extension of that universe. Sonically, that’s why the record “Deja vu” works. There’s a strong fusion between the production and the energy of everyone involved. Tre Johnson and Dawn Ali both make stellar contributions, bringing enough personality to make their presence felt without disrupting the foundation of the record. It feels collaborative instead of crowded, which isn’t always easy when you have multiple voices occupying the same space. Yet Cory is still the anchor..

There’s something almost dazed about the way he approaches this record. Not unfocused, actually the complete opposite. His delivery feels like somebody processing everything happening around him in real time while still being completely aware of where he wants the record to go. He doesn’t force intensity through volume or unnecessary aggression. The intensity comes from restraint, pacing, and knowing when to let a line sit. That gives the record it’s replay value. It also brings us directly to our biggest critique of Cory Rhymal right now, where is the project? At this point, individual records can only tell us so much. We’ve already seen Cory put together bodies of work that demonstrate how much stronger his artistry becomes when he has enough space to develop an entire idea. His perspective is too specific, his production choices are too intentional, and the universe surrounding his music is too interesting to continuously experience only in pieces. We want the conceptual EP. We want the album. More importantly, we want a project that documents exactly where Cory Rhymal is right now..

Because Chicago doesn’t necessarily need another collection of disconnected singles. It needs bodies of work that capture where it’s artists are mentally, creatively, culturally, and sonically at specific moments in time. Cory has already shown that he is capable of contributing to that documentation. Now it’s about putting the pieces together and giving us something we can actually sit with. And hopefully, we don’t have to wait too much longer..

Until then, take a listen and let us know what you think..