Bay Area MC Sayknowledge racked up an ample following thanks to a mesmerizing flow that fused conscious rhymes with unmistakeable rhythms. Now ready to close the chapter on the Sayknowledge moniker, the MC is returning under the new name Rich iyala with brand new single “Medusa.”
A collaboration with UK based producer / DJ ROM, whose recent releases on Soulection have garnered the multi-instrumentalist a devout following, “Medusa” deliver an ethereal concoction that utilizes everything from vocal distortions courtesy of a vocoder, synth, 808, and throwback elements of funk and soul. “ROM said he heard a track from my freshman album titled ‘Ariel’ a few times on Soulection Radio,” explains Iyala. “He dug my voice, and it was a match made in heaven.. all about the translation of soul as the ultimate comfort food of our generation”
While iyala’s flow may remind some of Danny Brown’s nasal delivery or Q-Tips’ syncopation, his message is deeper than what appears on the surface. iyala remains true to his belief in the underground power of soul. This ethos can be heard in a lyrical refrain from “Medusa-‘” “funk them with their handcuffs on-” that refers to songs and artists whose sole purpose is the superficial goal of writing a hit single, regardless of passion. One thing iyala is never short on, is his passion to his art.
