Zaya Sagittarius Brought Hyper Rap Whimsy, 808s and Underground Nerve to Hey, Mr Cloud Rap –

You could explore the entire spectrum of rap and never encounter an artist as eccentrically uninhibited as Zaya Sagittarius. The proof lies in his whole discography, and especially his latest drop, Hey, Mr Cloud Rap. Formerly known as Zaya2427, the Alabama-born underground hip-hop artist has spent more than a decade building a massive catalogue across cloud rap, hyper-pop and emotional hip-hop, all while keeping his independence intact.

Cloud rap may never become the most esteemed sub-genre, but Hey, Mr Cloud Rap proves it can still hit all the right marks when the artist behind it has enough personality to make the form feel elastic. There is a slightly whimsical edge to the nerdy rap delivery as the synths lay out a cosmic atmosphere across the solid rattle of the 808s, giving the track the feeling of a bedroom transmission sent from somewhere much stranger than Earth.

The pull in Hey, Mr Cloud Rap lies in how you are exposed to an artist who is unafraid to expose his authenticity, creatively and lyrically. Operating through his self-founded label, Young Aspiring Musicians, and carrying the Sauce Dad moniker, Zaya Sagittarius has built his own lane without sanding down the eccentricities that make him memorable. If we truly value connection through music, we need to uphold experimental artists in this fearlessly posturing-free vein.

Hey, Mr Cloud Rap is now available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast