2020 has been a year like no other – and in some ways, that hasn’t exactly been a good thing. The summer of 2020 is definitely one that none of us will be forgetting anytime soon, and it’s only right that its soundtrack wins a critical addition from Ryte Eye Ty this July in the form of his new single “Freedom.” Appropriately stylized as both an anthem of protest and peace, the vocal-only “Freedom” is a muscularly melodic number from Ryte Eye Ty that shows the world how much he can accomplish even without the assistance of a backing band.
Unlike his first single “I Got the Money,” this song isn’t rooted in hip-hop foundations; if anything, it’s straight out of the gospel hymns that many of us grew up singing in church. There’s never a moment in which the vocals here couldn’t be described as virtuosic in both style and shape, but at the same time there’s nothing in the overall mix that feels even remotely overindulgent. Ryte Eye Ty has no place for bells and whistles in this song; he’s got an important message he’s trying to convey to us, and props would have only got in the way.
“Freedom” is on the shorter side at a basic two and a half minutes of total running time, but because of its ultra-potent harmonies, it feels a heck of a lot grander and full of vitality than some of the longer tunes of the charts have in recent memory. The urgency in our leading man’s voice is more than enough to make it feel as though we’re listening to a more dexterous effort than what some in the mainstream R&B community would just as soon deem as much, and by the time the track is over, nothing feels particularly unfinished or halfhearted (the exact opposite, actually).
This single, through a solely aesthetical lens, is arguably as appealing to the hardcore gospel crowd as it is the casual R&B fan, and if you keep up with either of these genres with any sort of dedication, you already know that they’re getting further apart than ever because of elements of commerciality. One thing I definitely pick up on in “Freedom” is a disinterest in the bottom dollar; it’s obvious that Ryte Eye Ty is singing with all of his soul in the spotlight for the world to see.
I didn’t know much about the artist known as Ryte Eye Ty up until checking out “Freedom” for the first time just recently, but I can tell you now that I’m going to be looking for more of his content as the year continues coming into focus. Tough times call for an even tougher selection of songs to get us through to a positive tomorrow, and that’s the main reason why I think this is one of the smarter singles you can get your hands on this July. It’s not the only quality protest song I’ve listened to lately, but it has the potential to be the most important one you hear today.
Jodi Marxbury
The music of TY WEBB has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division. Learn more https://musikandfilm.com