DAMON PERRY
Side Effects May Include
(Dakota South Records)
By Mike O’Cull www.mikeocull.com
Dakota South Records recording artist Damon Perry lets his creativity burn hot on his new album Side Effects May Include. Perry is an elite wordsmith who writes intense interior monologues about the trials of life in this modern world of ours and lets them flow over crisp, motivating beats that deliver both funk and atmosphere. He dives deeper into himself than most rappers do, facing things many would avoid, and uses his pain and experience in ways that allow him to come across as genuine and true. Originally from Spearfish, South Dakota, Perry has been on the microphone since he was 13 and has crafted a sound based in soul, storytelling, and personal truth.
“Throughout The Night” is a hard-edged track about being “addicted to the dead of night” and shows Perry at his best. It’s the existential angst of someone “alone in the dark” and Perry conveys it in a way that will get it inside of your head. He alternates tough boom-bap sections with more ethereal passages, which does much to propel his lyrics, and makes no bones about taking his role as an actual artist seriously. “Intervention” is a pressure-cooker of a cut that speaks the mind of someone who needs one. Perry raps frantically like a man coming undone and takes listeners into the space of someone on the edge.
“Fifty Cent Cigarette” takes on love and loss and the demons they bring to life. Perry is fearlessly emotional here and on all his tracks and it’s this quality that lets him connect with new fans so quickly. He spits his mind no matter what he’s thinking. This, alone, sets him apart from the critical mass of rappers out on the scene pimping phony bravado and lives they didn’t really live. Other tracks of note on Side Effects May Include are “Dark Dreams,” “Side Effects,” and “Coming Home.” Damon Perry is well on his way to becoming a breakout artist and will conquer the world if he keeps throwing heat like this. Get yourself a copy of this one and hear what the next level really sounds like.
DAMON PERRY ON SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5qyPi9Dq1srekoowjZ4J8t?si=bmylpAR7SQugVzFtz7_MhQ
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: