Legendary rapper, producer, and creative force Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson) continues to redefine sonic boundaries with the release of his latest single “UnAwake,” a vibrant, genre-blurring anthem that fuses opera, soul, funk, and experimental hip-hop into one hypnotic soundscape.
A founding member of the iconic alternative hip-hop group The Pharcyde, Brown helped shape the West Coast’s non-gangsta rap identity with era-defining tracks like “Passin’ Me By” and “Drop.” Now, with “UnAwake,” he’s pushing the envelope once again, this time into UltraHipFunkWave, a genre which he has created, that is as visionary and undefinable as Brown himself.
Legendary rapper, producer, and creative force Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson) continues to redefine sonic boundaries with the release of his latest single “UnAwake,” a vibrant, genre-blurring anthem that fuses opera, soul, funk, and experimental hip-hop into one hypnotic soundscape.
A founding member of the iconic alternative hip-hop group The Pharcyde, Brown helped shape the West Coast’s non-gangsta rap identity with era-defining tracks like “Passin’ Me By” and “Drop.” Now, with “UnAwake,” he’s pushing the envelope once again, this time into UltraHipFunkWave, a genre which he has created, that is as visionary and undefinable as Brown himself.
Originally produced by Fabrice Grassin, the track takes unexpected, cinematic turns with Brown’s bold orchestration. He enlisted an opera singer and a live violinist to deepen the drama and tension within the arrangement, adding lush textures that elevate the song’s emotional weight. The addition of Chicago soul singer Peven Everett brings a pulsing, danceable energy, accentuating the track’s ethereal yet grounded duality.
True to Brown’s multidisciplinary spirit, “UnAwake” feels like a soundtrack to a dream-state revolution, a swirling blend of abstract thought, emotional gravity, and unapologetic rhythm. It’s a reminder that Bootie Brown is not just a voice from the golden era of hip-hop, but a sonic explorer charting new territory for future generations.