Higher Perception By Sly Mike

 Higher Perception is a double Hip hop single from rising Winston-Salem, North Carolina-native independent artist and producer Sly Mike. It was released on March 18th, 2022, and runs for 4 minutes and 53 seconds. The 2-piece is comprised of “Xotic” and “Vibes”: two tracks that are great by themselves, but certainly compliment each other when juxtaposed.

This gives Higher Perception a seamless feel that makes it feel more like one song than two; It's also hard to just listen to one of the tracks because each track you play blends in with the others really well. Both songs were self-produced by Sly Mike, hence the producer tag "Oh, Sly made it?". “Xotic” is a song with a smoother sound; The beats have catchy leads and a crushing bassline that combine to create a very deep and dreamy feel. It's calming yet energizing..

Sly Mike's beats are a stark contrast to the beats and help bring out the best in every element of the song. The vocals are coherent and strong without being monotonous. He talks about how he lives his life, trying to keep moving, focusing on improving himself, but also trying to stay calm and relaxed. He also talks about his style and how he deals with hate.

“Vibes” carries the same subtle energy, but evokes a chill vibe, mostly stemming from its catchy melody and punchy bass. The two together create a dynamic soundscape that leaves plenty of room for singing: they focus more on his love life and the interactions that take place between him and the women he spends time with.

Additionally, this track elaborates on his work ethic and briefly discusses his morals and past. Overall, Higher Perception is a concise duo of tracks that both contrast each other and complement each other, collectively bringing an array of unique and fresh sounds to the table, as well as lyrics that both vitalize and energize the listener.