Dame Hossana - Prey (Intro)

There comes a time once every so often you have the pleasure of hearing something that moves you in a different way. This moment encompasses a variety of variables. Mostly circumstantial, for instance, where you happen to be, your mood in that particular moment, and the kind of device your operating to consume the particular song all play a defining role in how you receive it. Then, there’s some rare occurrence where those variables don’t even matter. This is said instance where Dallas, Texas artist Dame Hossana puts on a virtuoso on his captivating release titled “Prey (Intro)”.

Equipped with production that conjures serenity, a soul sample that marinates in your spirit, vivid lyrics, where every bar is dense and has intention. From the opening note your ears are perked in attention and mind is open in anticipation. The production is crisp, dramatic, and the perfect canvas for Dame Hossana to dabble with witty cadences. The Dallas artist possesses a command over his vocals ensuring they’re impactful and present. His voice is skipping over the instrumental weaving through the snares while rhymes punch an exclamation timed on the kick drum.

The song is rich with wordplay and sublime metaphors. Drawing in the listener, the lyrics are captivating and the animation in the vocal performance are both gravitating and gratifying . Very charismatic “Prey (Intro)” is a conversational piece constructed by a consummate artist. Meticulous in his approach Hossana broaches topics and encapsulates a myriad of note worthy quotes that is sure to resonates across overlapping demographics. Possessing lines such as “Nipsey died and I ain't been the same, I see Envy everyday like I’m Charlamange”. This line finds the artist referencing the tragic circumstances around the murdering of the late Great Nipsey Hussle, and relaying it with popular radio personalities DJ Envy and Charlamange of Power 105.1 “The Breakfast Club”. Intently, producing a cross pollination of just the right amount of lyrical dexterity and entertainment.

Hossana raps “don’t compare me to the Kendrick’s and Jermaine’s, compare me to Hussien before they let him hang”. Hossana states his claim as a dictator with his diction. Although, he shuns being compared to Kendrick and Jermaine on the contrary his brilliant approach is a beacon for Hip-Hop as the aforementioned. “Prey (Intro)” is indicative of it’s title, from the supplication offered whether to a deity or the listeners as a whole the recording studio is the confessional where Hossana opts to pours out his soul. However, the play on words is elaborating on the spelling which corroborates with the vulnerable feeling of being a target.

The production is Heaven sent the vocal samples are angelic, the bass is ravished with emotion evoking a stellar performance from Dame Hossana. Armed with direct metaphors, some latent ones land just as well “White girl in the master suite I pray to God she don’t Kobe me”. The irony of him and a white girl being in the master suite, and the apprehension he feels indulging in sexual activity is littered with historical contexts. That in itself is rich with nuance, and one can infer is a condition inherited from the psychological traumas of slavery. The electric guitar riff is gripping as it howls and bleeds while Dame Hossana vividly paints the dichotomy of prayers and being preyed upon. My only gripe is the abrupt ending of the record, but since this is an intro ostensibly it sequences into the following track. This is a pleasurable listening experience from beginning to end.