Paper Paulk
Street Dreaming Vol. II
(self-released)
Twenty-five-year-old local rapper Paper Paulk sold some 40,000 copies of last year's Street Dreaming Vol. I and undoubtedly hopes to duplicate the magic with this hour-long mixtape. The disc commences with a ballad of sorts that finds Paulk yelling out "street dreaming" over a dramatic piano riff. Paulk worked with a wide variety of different local producers and the production on the disc runs the gamut. Producer Mark Christian opts for something sparse on the percussion-heavy, shimmering "God Given." And he goes for something similar with "Black Diamond," a quiet tune that starts with a piano melody and soft vocals before turning up the volume. Guest vocalist Ebony James adds soulful vocals that offset Paulk's hard-hitting raps. He hiccups his way through the twitchy "Know Bout It," a tune that evokes the late, great Notorious B.I.G. This is an ambitious effort. Can't wait to see what the guy pulls off for his studio debut, which he says is in the works.
