Each Measure Review: Proklaim

FEATURE

My first thought after listening to Proklaim’s highly energetic new single, “NOTHA 1 DOWN,” was that it had only one flaw: it’s not long enough.

Clocking in at only one minute and fifteen seconds, it’s definitely on the shorter side. It even comes with the parenthetical “(MINI TRACK)”. On my first listen, I found the beat irresistible, and I know I could have listened to Proklaim go on for a few minutes more. But on second thought, it’s perfect the way it is.

In his most famous of plays, William Shakespeare wrote, “Brevity is the soul of wit,” and that holds true here. Proklaim names timeless legends like Bob Marley, the Wu Tang Clan, and Biggie among his influences. All of them were as famous for their messages as for their sound, harnessing the power of language to drive their appeal. They understood one of the cardinal rules of poetry: using the right words is almost always better than using the most words. Proklaim is following their examples.

Master songwriters like Proklaim don’t always need to take up a huge amount of space in order to get their point across. They choose both their words and their beats purposefully, and the end result is a work of art that packs a punch in under two minutes.

But I think there’s more to it than that. I get the impression that the reason Proklaim chose to end the track when he did wasn’t just because there was no more to say, but because the moment had passed.

The solo hip-hop artist recorded “NOTHA 1 DOWN” at Pen Pushaz Studios in his native city of Windhoek, Namibia, and the track was engineered at Audio Art Namibia. His press release describes the production process as “uniquely quick and spontaneous, with Proklaim laying down the vocals and freestyling the hook to capture the raw energy of the track.”

I think “spontaneous” is the perfect word to describe “NOTHA 1 DOWN.” Everything about the track feels natural and organic. It’s often easy to tell when artists have to force themselves to come up with good ideas because they seldom have any, but “NOTHA 1 DOWN” is an exercise in artistic instinct and sincere chemistry. He’s singing what feels right and capturing the energy of a fleeting moment.

I’m reminded of the concept of “flow”. In the world of hip-hop and rap music, it refers to an artist’s ability to transition between rhythms and patterns throughout a verse. Certainly, Proklaim displays a gift for this kind of flow on “NOTHA 1 DOWN.” On the track, he takes a minimalist approach to the instrumentation, featuring a subtle synth soundscape and a steady beat. All the other blanks are filled in with his voice, which proves to be a very versatile instrument. His rap falls into a steady, seemingly effortless cadence, sustaining the dynamic rhythm that drives the track. His voice bounces between rhymes like a rubber ball, always hitting its targets with perfect accuracy. He also punctuates the rap with other tracks of his own voice, occasionally throwing out enthusiastic phrases like, “Everyday!” and “Get Ready!” He’s almost like a one-man band, creating the illusion of a high-spirited crowd completely on his own. In that sense, Proklaim is a perfect example of how a skilled artist can use flow to elevate a track from good to great.

But in the world of psychology, “flow” has another meaning. It’s the term for a mental state in which a person is fully immersed and engaged in an activity, operating at a level of intense and seamless creativity. Listening to “NOTHA 1 DOWN,” I get the distinct impression that what I’m hearing is an example of what artists can achieve when they enter the flow state.

The track begins Proklaim reciting a line from the Christian Lord’s Prayer. It’s a declaration of his faith, but to me, it also seems like an invocation, as if Proklaim is calling upon his spiritual muses to help him use his gifts. And apparently it worked.

Then we get to hear the hook Proklaim described freestyling in the studio: “Understand I’m in the zone / It’s from the sun up to the sun down / Another one down!” I agree – he is in the zone. This what a talented artist sounds like at his finest, when he’s able to channel his creative impulses without even really trying. What follows is a dynamic, fast-paced rap lyric in which Proklaim expresses pride and dedication to his craft.

According to his press release, Proklaim “aims to resonate with audiences on a profound level, urging them to grow and evolve just like the artist’s own journey in the industry.” Growth is a recurring theme in Proklaim’s work. For him, a steady march toward progress seems to be the meaning of life, and the new release explores this idea further, and he sings, “It’s been a while that I’ve been blessed / But here to grow like my interest.”

Not only is this a clever simile (and possibly a pun), but it’s also a pretty good summation of Proklaim’s philosophy on life: success is something to be celebrated, but it isn’t the finish line. There’s always more to accomplish, and that’s why Proklaim keeps doing what he does. 

As an artist, Proklaim’s journey so far has been an upward trajectory, and right now he’s more successful than he’s ever been. But that doesn’t mean he’s peaked. “Behold now, steppin’ in my prime / Remain there for a lifetime / We’re gettin’ started,” he sings. It’s a deceptively simple line that actually holds a profound truth. Success and “the prime of your life” don’t need to be temporary. 

It's also interesting that “We’re gettin’ started” is one of the last lines he sings before repeating the hook one final time and then fading into silence. It may be the end of the song, but for Proklaim, it’s the beginning of the next era of his life and new heights of career success.

All in all, “NOTHA 1 DOWN” is a powerful little track that does an excellent job of capturing a moment of time. We witness an artist at the top of his game, doing what he does best and with tremendous skill.

It truly is a moment of creative flow, but the flow state doesn’t last forever. It fades eventually, and trying to prolong it beyond its natural lifecycle is always futile. That’s why Proklaim ends the song when he does – he’s reached the finish line of this triumph and is moving toward the starting line of the next one.

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