Overlooked: Chaundon “By the Way” EP (Album Review) Posted by Dharmic X on 02/18/13 | Filed under Opinion, Album Reviews, Overlooked, Chaundon

Former Justus League affiliate and Bronx native Chaundon has developed an amazing chemistry with producer ATG, who has made an impact in 2012 producing for emcees such as Meyhem Lauren, Reks, and Fashawn. After releasing “The Jammington” last spring, the duo has put out a quickstrike EP, “By the Way” last week, a project that was actually recorded over six months ago. Chaundon, who now resides in North Carolina, traveled up to New York City to record the project in ATG’s apartment.

“By the Way” is a straightforward project, autobiographical in content. It brings the listener into the mindframe of where Chaundon stands at the present moment: a rap veteran transitioning into a new phase of his life, examining the opportunities he has at his disposal, the obstacles he has overcome in the past, and the circumstances of the people around him.

“Utensils,” the project’s closing track, sees the Bronx native rapping about the fork in the road that plagued him in the summer. He has a choice between staying in New York City and pursuing the opportunity at his disposal to take his career to the next level, or staying in North Carolina and maintaining his married life that he had worked so hard to build up and maintain. It’s a song that is vivid and brutally honest, and ultimately ends the project on a cliffhanger. Meanwhile, “2 Sides” sees Chaundon and featured guest Ea$y Money from Boston, sees both emcees talk about their experiences in the streets and ultimately, how the experience made them better individuals.



Chaundon approaches each track with the right concept and has lyrical ability, but ATG’s production is damn near flawless throughout. The beat for “Thndr” starts off with a soulful intro that sets up a rumbling banger, the drum pattern delivering an excellent kick. Throughout the project, ATG keeps the vibe smooth yet refuses to be repetitive, creating a sound that serves as a perfect canvas for Chaundon to paint his life’s struggles upon.

The highlight song off “By the Way” is “Fire,” a posse cut talking about perseverance through the fire. The lineup of rappers is dope enough--Reks, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Chaundon each hits home with their respective verses--but it’s the nuances of the track that set it apart from a lot of tracks one will hear in 2013. It starts with a jazzy piano sample and then sets into a beat that is a bit more anthemic. Right before the beat starts however, there is a minor sound effect that is equally as powerful, the sound of a lighter sparking up. Meanwhile, the hook, sung by Vanessa Renee, adds a final touch to the track.

Unlike the EP reviewed last week by Deejay Element, “By the Way” is for sale via The DJBooth and iTunes. But this is a more calculated project from the savvy veteran, way more conceptual and perhaps even more cohesive. By the end of the project, the listener has a sense of the obstacles Chaundon has dealt with to get to the point of being able to present this for-sale project, and can also appreciate what he has coming in the future.

See Also:  Overlooked: DeeJay Element “Reality Kings & Reason” (Album Review)