Quelle Chris - The Sky is Blue Because the Sunset is Red Track Review

Quelle Chris' second single leading up to the release of Deathfame this year continues to build on the soulful and lyrically style he has owned throughout his career. 

So to start off, I would admit that I have limited experience listening to Quelle Chris -- my first album of his was the 2018 collaboration Everything is Fine between him and Jean Grae. While I really enjoyed the project, it did not really click for me in a way that would entice me to go back and listen for months on end. However, with the release of Innocent Country 2 in 2020, I became a huge fan, finding soulful cuts like "Graphic Bleed Outs",  "Sacred Safe", and "Sudden Death" to be warm and emotional. The variation on the project between these songs and "Mirage" also really heightened my appreciation for this project. So after loving Innocent Country 2, I have been actively looking for new features and songs of his.

The song loops a piano riff, incorporating various guest vocals and ad libs at differing times, to great effect. Additionally, lo-fi undertones of the song make for an interesting contrast with the centering of the piano in the overall production. The production creates this  sentimental feeling when it accentuates the subtle references to death and family. Sweetness, tranquility, nostalgia, and grace emanate from this melodic beat that really complements not only the rapping, but also the story told by the lyrics.  

As always, Quelle Chris excellent rapping allows him to flow elegantly across the production. I really like the way he raps over these more soulful cuts because of how his delivery and lyrical content both complement the production in a way that really hits home what he is saying. In terms of songwriting, his decision to rhyme Romulus with Necropolis embodies his skillful writing. His verse constantly references death through many different images. I found the bar about the "Bodycounts in the backstage," fitting considering the name of the album is Deathfame. The references to fame and performance continue with this really interesting introspective bar where Chris raps "After curtain call I go back to burying past ways // Showtime.", where the choice to describe growth as burying plays into those recurring callbacks to death. In another separate instance, I found it to be really eloquent to metaphorize this theme by rapping "Greener grass dies on the other side when the seasons change." Overall, Quelle Chris definitely brought a lot of energy with this verse and it really shows. 

Listening to MoRuf flow over this verse is an extremely enjoyable experience. He finds the pocket almost immediately and raps so deftly throughout his feature. His skill is further articulated through his switch to singing for the last three bars of his verse. In terms of his pen game, what else can I say besides it is impeccable. MoRuf's bars are witty, the way he writes about his family evokes clear imagery with the references to his older sister's cooking. The references to hockey great Wayne Gretzky and former catcher Mike Piazza contribute to the nostalgic mood of the song. 

Pink Siifu takes the last verse on the project. While short, he focuses on agency and conflict through the perpetual references to hands. For example. the imagery of firing shots makes this conceptually interesting through tying all of these themes together. Pink Siifu also does a great job finding his own flow over the production in a way that makes the combination of the two an extremely engrossing thing to listen to.   

Ultimately, this song really reminds us of some of the more soulful cuts in Quelle Chris' discography. I love everything about this song, whether it be the production, the rapping, or the lyrics.  

Do you think the album will embody the style of this song? 

How would you describe your past experiences listening to Quelle Chris?

Comment Below 

-J