Sareem Poems Archives - Five Twenty Co., LLC

Following up the successful “Eyes Across the Room” release, DIE-REK closes out the year on the strength of Get Nervous*.

Including peer emcees Sareem Poems (LA Symphony), Sojourn, and Griffin. the golden-era beats on the track are so hype. The classic hi-top Reeboks will instantly seem to appear on your feet as you suddenly find yourself magically at center court. The rap tandem’s boasting on the track is an energetic boost, giving way to a truly great listening experience.

*Free download via Bandcamp

<a href="https://illect.bandcamp.com/album/get-nervous">Get Nervous by DIE-REK</a>

When you can close your eyes and visualize the images depicted in the music you’re hearing, that’s The Dream Sequence.
That’s the encapsulating duo of Sareem Poems and Ess Be transformed into Scene 1 and Scene 2 with you, the listener, fixed inside their ever-morphing prism. Each of these 5 songs adds an array of colors and context to the shape of things as we know it.

<a href="https://thedreamsequence.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-wide-awake-act-2">Dreaming Wide Awake: Act 2 by The Dream Sequence, Sareem Poems, Ess Be</a>

Act 1 was meant to set up the story.

With ‘Dreaming Wide Awake: Act 2’, The Dream Sequence is adding an array of colors and context to the shape of things as we know it.

The five-song EP (10 tracks including the instrumentals) officially releases on July 11, 2021. Scene 1 and Scene 2 (Sareem Poems + Ess Be) were kind enough to let us get early access. For fans of what many consider “classic hip hop”, what the talented duo is bringing to the table is a breath of fresh air. With skilled lyricism and a sound that both sets the bar and is familiar at the same time, The Dream Sequence marks the return of an era many believed had passed.

For those who clamor for groups/duos in hip hop, here is your new go-to.

Dreaming Wide Awake: Act 2 brings all the elements that a hip hop head could hope for. It does so in a way that also connects to today’s audience. Below are my thoughts, but I encourage you to come to your own conclusions about this project. You can pre-order the project via Bandcamp now.

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Free Mind

The lead track on the project is also the first single released. On Free Mind, Scene 1 and Scene 2 do exactly what they were made to do. Poignant bars over classic boom-bap encourage the listener to open their mind in order to break free of what is currently holding them captive. Sareem Poems shares stories of people in his life who encouraged him to do the same. Ess Be uses hard-hitting bass coupled with string hits to create a choir-like sonic setting. It is a great introduction to Act 2.

Ay Yo!

Ay Yo! begins with a lo-fi static crackle and tribalistic drum patterns. I love Sareem’s cadence on the first verse. The synth underlying brings a beautiful element as well that defines the record’s parts. Ay Yo! is one of those head-nodders. The hook is far from the most impressive you’ve ever heard. It is not one that is likely to stay with you. Even so, that doesn’t mean that it fails in its purpose. This track is all about feeling and energizing the listener, which easily hits its mark. I can definitely see this record being a favorite for DJs as it is sure to keep people moving.

Idol Hands

The mood changes course on Idol Hands as slow piano chords and deep melodic vocals kick things off.

The inclusion of finger snaps are a nice touch that goes along with the soulful crooning. As the verse starts off, I really enjoyed the production change that features a reversed sample that again harkens back to golden-era hip hop. It complements the bars of Sareem Poems as the emcee tackles emotion-filled topics. In his verses, Poems openly works through personal difficulties that are more than relatable. Who are we really? Are we what brands, marketing, and society tell us, or are we indeed unique and created with a purpose? Then comes the hook. Like a glorious realization, Poems declares “I’m nothing close to what I’m painted to be, I’m free. I just want to be who God made me to be.” By the time the record ends, Idol Hands has become one of my favorite Dream Sequence songs so far.

Groovy

Sonically, Act 2 changes direction to a more open and simplistic feel for Groovy. It is a nice contrast coming off of Idol Hands and while the production is inviting, it is the lyricism that quickly jumps front and center. Sareem reminds the listener that he is one of the most gifted spitters in hip hop. He is in his bag as he seamlessly moves in and out of patterns. The ease with which he commands the beat is only found with an emcee who has truly mastered his craft. Groovy is a classic summer track. It is one of those records where, no matter what style you prefer, everyone tunes in for it when it drops.

Forever Everything

The finale of the five-song set is a subdued tempo paired with deep bass that surrounds your environment. Sareem Poems provides life lessons that are grounded in biblical truths. Life can certainly weigh on us and have us believing lies. It is up to us to either accept these falsehoods or look in the mirror and take ownership of our reality. For believers, we have the truth and it is powerful. Forever Everything is an encouragement and reminder of the promises we have been given.

“Everything’s imperfect, including you and me/forever’s a long time that our bodies never see/everything don’t last forever, this too shall pass/everytime that you cry, deserves a good laugh”

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Overall, I really enjoyed Dreaming Wide Awake: Act 2.

What Sareem Poems and Ess Be are doing with The Dream Sequence is not only needed, but it simply feels special. They are proving that what is at the core of hip hop is not something that will just “go away”. It is a foundation that is proven. Mix its recipe with a good dose of high-quality expectations and it is hard to go wrong.

Dreaming Wide Awake (yes, I’m now including Act 1 & Act 2 as a whole), is certainly worthy to be in the discussions that center around the best releases of the year.

Be sure to follow The Dream Sequence on Twitter: @TheDreamSequen1 Instagram: @thedreamsequencemusic and Spotify

***What do you think of the single “Free Mind”? What songs are you excited to hear? Hit the comments and let us know!***

<a href="https://thedreamsequence.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-wide-awake-act-2">Dreaming Wide Awake: Act 2 by The Dream Sequence</a>

With Act 2 approaching, Scene 1 & 2 (Sareem Poems & Ess Be) keep rolling with their single Free Mind.

What is “The Dream Sequence”?

Imagination mixed with clarity, dreamy scores, and songwriting that listeners can vividly envision.

The Dream Sequence is the duo of Scene 1 and Scene, better known by their prior monikers of Sareem Poems and Ess Be. Both dropped acclaimed projects in 2020. Now the enigmatic Midwest duo aims to make good music a certainty. Not a mystery.

You may notice that Scene 1 and Scene 2 sport masks over their faces. This is not without reason.

The masks are to ensure listeners focus on the art, not their appearance.

With lush soundscapes that serve as a creative playlist of R&B, lo-fi, experimental, house, soul, funk, future bass, chill, trap, and hip-hop – the beautiful, thumping compositions of their reality are like dreams come to life.

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Dreaming Wide Awake: Act 1

On their debut project, The Dream Sequence come back for the first time.

Dreaming Wide Awake is a quintet of sure shots. The EP is a dreamy mix of scores with anthemic calls to action.

Available now on Bandcamp, the digital release includes instrumental versions of each track on the project.

The message is one of self-empowerment; a fearless affirmation of independence; a motivational muse to rid your life of procrastination. Containing bars that sound like exhaling pleas, stories about body counts, elections, pandemics, and social ills are laid bare in gruesome glory. It all closes with a resounding “Amen”.

The five jams consist of truth, thump, and turn up. All are in plentiful amounts.

The record “Let’s Go” is like the unruly offspring of an earthquake. A bop that hits harder than batteries in a sock. All without the crowd-pleasing tap dance routines.

“Good ‘N Fine” is an uplifting bounce while “Fresh Air” is a genuinely sobering moment.

Project Details

Title: Dreaming Wide Awake: Act 1

Release Date: April 2, 2021

Artist: The Dream Sequence

Production: Ess Be

Lyrics: Sareem Poems

Engineering: Imperial

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The Dream Sequence is inspired by life experiences and family. Both Scene 1 and Scene 2 know that together they make music that will break barriers. They have arrived. Whatever vision seemed far-fetched before now is closer than ever.

What do you think of the new project? Sample it below and hit the comments to give us your thoughts!

<a href="https://thedreamsequence.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-wide-awake">Dreaming Wide Awake by The Dream Sequence</a>

Sareem Poems (raps) and Newselph (beats) are back with a follow up to their acclaimed 88 to Now album. The Art of Living captures them at their best and features that classic Sareem Poems content.

After a run of singles, Sareem Poems and Newselph have dropped the 11-song project ’88 To Now’

Featuring the previously released “Kick’n It”, “No Fly Zone”, “In N Out”, and “This Life” – ’88 To Now’ is a project that has desperately been needed.

With features from Ozay Moore, James Gardin, Macklyn, Sivion, Composetheway, and Chris Orrick, there is a connection to be made for every listener. It is a trip back to the golden era of hip hop but made for today’s culture.

Poems is a solidified vet in the CHH world and ’88 To Now’ displays the skill of a master craftsman who understands the subtle details of his product.

“So prepare to look back, and then go forward. 1988 was a dope year, but the ‘now’ is even better.”

Listen to ’88 To Now’: