Mixtape Review: Tre Luce – The Return of the “A”

Expect the unexpected.

I caught wind of this artist’s music while I chilled at a Christmas event hosted at the New Era store in Atlanta (2011). While politicking and eating brownies and cookies, an artist noticed that I was a blogger. Once he learned of this, he handed me his CD. Tre Luce is his name. He even took the time to explain how hard he worked on the music. Noting that he put his heart and soul into it, I just said “Alright. I will give it a review”. The following morning, seeing that I had a pretty lengthy drive to Alabama ahead of me, I decided to pop the CD in. After giving it a thorough listen, The Return of the “A” is surprising as it is refreshing in its approach.

The (mostly) self-produced sound that encompasses this CD is homegrown and organic in its own right.  “I Got Her” has a riding rhythm accented by guitar licks, vocal samples, and synths that massage the ears. “GEDs and Bachelors” come with a funky, R&B sound that expresses his ideas of hood living. “New Clothes” uses flipped samples (sped up and slowed down) to accentuate the flows of materialism and accentuated vanity. With a diverse sound grounded in soulfulness, The Return of the “A” rarely becomes sonically boring.

Rhyme wise, Tre Luce chooses to talk about real men situations that fluctuates depending upon the track and subject matter. “Don’t Cry”, referencing the mishaps of relationships, allows him to use a flow that goes with the up-tempo soulful beat, as if he’s almost singing within his rhyme schemes.  Yet, “The Return”, featuring Debra Killings and Scar, has him spitting much simpler and gentler to enunciate his every word. Even with the carnally influenced “You Can Bust” and the heavy artillery referencing “Machinery”, the flows match the song to make sure that there is very little contrast. Put it simple and plain: he keeps an arsenal of flows for his arsenal of subject matter.

     The Return of the “A” is an equally impressive album from an equally impressive unknown. I can only suggest a couple of things for Tre Luce: keep making music and promote harder. A lot of people would be glad to hear the level of maturity and sonic sequencing applied to this music. Tre Luce has made some music that is extremely impressive. I just hope that he continues to grow, create, and promote. He has what it takes. Now, he needs to make sure the rest of the world realizes it too.

Check out the CD below:
Tre Luce – The Return of The ‘A’ by Tre Luce
Article written by contributing writer, Mark A. Harris, for STACKS Magazine.