There is no better feeling as a music fan than when you can say, “I was listening to [insert star’s name] years ago before they blew.” It’s a moment of ego inflation that makes you feel like you could step into any A&R department at any record label and give them a roster of undeniable talent. I felt that moment of confirmation after the explosion of Chance the Rapper as a 6th grader listening to 10 Day and as a high schooler telling my friends to listen to this guy Jack Harlow’s song called “SUNDOWN.” I feel confident in saying that I get these same vibes from Texas’s Dende.
Dende is a singer, rapper, and producer who has been releasing music consistently since 2019, with several albums, EPs, and singles under his belt. I discovered him after 2021’s A Happy Man, a deeply personal album that displayed Dende’s immaculate writing and knack for making catchy melodies like on the track “Phone Number.”
I have patiently awaited a new project since his last EP in late 2021 that was accurately titled Pregnancy Pack because this project, for lack of a more refined description, was sexy. It just oozed charisma with Dende’s beat selection and subject matter. And now, a little over a year later, Dende is back with a brand new EP, Before We Crash. So, let’s dive in.
“Sensually”
This album opens with Dende driving with his girl as he tries to find a song on the radio for them to listen to. When he finally lands on one they both like, the album begins as we get a calming piano and Dende’s beautiful voice as he pleads to a girl why he wants her all to himself and the regret he’d feel if he messed it up. This is an excellent album opening that introduces some of the themes of love that are explored throughout the EP. Dende is quite good at naming these songs because this song sounds sensual from the get-go.
“Flowers”
On this track, Dende competes with all other potential suitors of his girl as he explains why he is the only one worth loving. In the chorus, he gives his plea of what he would do if he ever gets the chance to be with her. This is another relaxing beat with a sensual chorus. I love how he rap-sings in the second verse when he details that he’d do anything for this girl while all other potential suitors are lying to her. I really appreciate Dende’s storytelling as he showcases his writing prowess.
“Georgia” Ft. Deante’ Hitchcock
This track was released as a single and definitely helped grow my anticipation for a possible project on the horizon. This chorus is infectious, and the beat sounds like summer. Also, a little advice. If you have never heard of Atlanta’s Denate’ Hitchcock, do yourself a favor and look him up. I’m in love with his writing style and thick southern accent. He has a particular line involving Freddie Gibbs in this song that I can’t quite write in this article, but the line highlights why I love the humor displayed in Deante’s writing. This track worked perfectly as an introduction to what would later come on this EP.
“Round Trip To Atlanta”
This song was another single released in 2022 and another showcasing of Dende’s great storytelling. I can’t say I related too much to the story of falling for a stripper, but I’m lost in a trance with this hypnotic and atmospheric beat. I like how this project has been following a story as Dende falls deeper and deeper in love with this girl. I also enjoyed the chopped-and-screwed changeup at the end.
“Please U” Ft. Erykah Officer
This beat instantly sounds like something that came from Ari Lennox’s most recent project. This bass line is [insert expletive] groovy. Dende and Erykah share so much chemistry as we finally hear directly from the perspective of the girl Dende has been falling for. I love when two singers go back and forth, and I started to float when they joined in together on the chorus. They also did an excellent interpolation of Destiny Child’s “Say My Name.”
“Better Than Him”
Dende released a snippet of this track before the eventual drop of this EP, and I just knew it would end up being my favorite. Sometimes seeing a music video to visualize a song helps make it even better in my head. This beat sounds like something Smino might jump on. I’m not someone who can break down the techniques of singing and make it sound like some science experiment when explaining why my ears enjoy it so much, but the harmonizing on the chorus is done perfectly. This was a great way to close out the project.
Closing Thoughts
This EP was terrific. I love a concise project that never gets boring for a second. Dende’s singing and storytelling abilities shine through on this one throughout the duration of the EP. There truly was never a dull moment. I look forward to a full-length album from the Texas artists who deserves everyone’s attention in the music industry.
