Hey  . .. I thought Starranko was a hip hop musician or rapper. I have him in the rap category ( on the blog) because of his first cut or title track  called "Odd Ass City". Once you listen to that track, you'll think the whole soundcloud album would be hip hop - wrong my friend. Starranko is a fusion of hip hop, EDM, electronica, funk and soul - which delves into neo-soul a few times thanks to his background singer, Anneliese. She's funky . . .almost like a background singer from a Massive Attack tune, but grittier.

   You'll like Starranko's other soundcloud tunes found at soundcloud.com/starranko. You'd have to say Starranko is the main rapper, but the focus of his music is soft alternative rock or trip hop. After reading Starranko's (or Domingos Muekalia, Jr - his real name) facebook bio, you'll find that his influences are Kanye, Biggie Smalls and Nirvana. Nirvana? Where did they come from? You hear something like Nirvana, or a soft version of Nirvana, in the song "I am" On that song, you'll find a soft, pulsating acoustic guitar riff over some of Starranko's spoken word rap style. If you're looking for hip hop, you wont be disappointed . .but you wont get 100% rap. In "You Know ft. Joey Colie" you'll hear what sounds to me like Sean Lennon - no lie! I hear Sean Lennon singing in this song. Again, this soundcloud album is not 100% rap.

   Now, "D.O.A. Down and Out Ft. Anneliese" is funky - true neo-soul. There's a nice alternative rock piano piece which reminded me of the group "Pulp". Then you hear a cool sax melody while Anneliese gets funky . . .sort of a Pink Floyd background vocal with Massive Attack entering the picture - or should I say . . .studio? Regardless, this is a decent album. You'll like it.

The three videos I'll present to you are also unique. You'll see "Just Us" - a video that is reminiscent of a slow Nirvanan song with piano or keyboard. The video is filled with prime time news events from the past featuring starving babies from Africa to nuclear mushroom clouds.

   "X-Men" is a real nice video, as well. The studio effects look pretty good for something that could be on a shoe string budget. It was directed by a group called Astra Creator, or created by a program called Astra Creator. You'll see trippy effects . . but more important, "X-Men" is a rap song - which was why I thought the album would be rap. No way. . .the album is an eclectic mix of trip hop, neo-soul and hip hop.

   The last video, "Can't Hold Us", is a pop video. It must have been one of Starranko's first  . . .because the youtube was uploaded in Domingos Muekalia, Jr's name. Must have been before Starranko became a rapper.

   Regardless, I like where Starranko is going, but I like his alternative tracks on the new soundcloud, as well. There is a place for him in the rap world . . .but more important ..  .there's an even bigger place for him in the trip hop/pop world.