Hip-Hop/Review Sugly Boy - Before the Raeskiverse
Sugly Boy is a cinematic rap and glitch-soul artist from Portsmouth, VA (757), blending heavy drums, warped harmonies, and mythic storytelling into a signature sound known as Raeskified. Every song he makes expands the Raeskiverse—a living world where music becomes lore, emotion becomes energy, and real life becomes legend. Raised between motion, loss, and creativity, Sugly Boy turns truth into sound. His style fuses trap aggression, soulful depth, and blue-glow atmospheres with experimental production.
Sugly Boy’s “Before the Raeskiverse” is a compelling four-track EP that lays the foundation for a much larger serialized world, a prelude to the intricate narrative of the Raeskiverse. Hampton Roads, VA artist-producer Raeski Rea, working under his producer alias Sugly Boy, demonstrates remarkable versatility, shifting effortlessly across lyrical boom-bap, lo-fi introspection, and modern trap while maintaining a razor-sharp focus on personal storytelling and sonic cohesion.
Opening with “Raeski,” the EP sets a high bar with tight boom-bap lyricism, cinematic layers, and soulful textures, immediately showcasing Rea’s skill as a writer-forward hip-hop artist. “All In Too” slows the pace into lo-fi confession, offering a reflective, intimate window into his thought process. The standout track, “Better Than I Was,” brings triumphant energy, fusing uplifting production with clear, deliberate songwriting—a track that is as quotable as it is motivating. Closing with “Brockies,” Sugly Boy critiques inauthenticity with sharp trap-leaning beats and incisive lyrics, rounding out a concise yet varied journey.
Throughout the EP, the production is clean, deliberate, and devoid of gimmicks—every drum hit, sample, and vocal inflection feels intentional. Beyond its musicality, “Before the Raeskiverse” excels in world-building: local 757 lore, personal equations, and pre-canon narrative threads weave seamlessly into each track, establishing the blueprint for a universe that promises depth and longevity. For fans of thoughtful, soulful, and modern hip-hop, Sugly Boy offers both substance and style, making “Before the Raeskiverse” an essential first chapter in the Raeskiverse saga.