"Around" by URSA MAJOR

The next generation of R&B

Young people that are precocious and two steps ahead of the game usually fall into one of two categories: off-putting or enthralling. If you pushed “play” before reading this, you are now well aware that Toronto’s 19-year-old Ursa Major falls into the second category. His track “Around” is one of the smoothest, most original pieces of music in recent memory. Built around the instrumental track “Flowers” by the late legendary producer J Dilla, Ursa Major blends R&B, hip-hop, and soulful guitar solos to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The young artist’s calm, confident, and clever lyrics, demonstrate his expansive vocabulary and aptitude for writing while matching up perfectly with the low-key piano and tambourine background courtesy of J Dilla.

In between verses, Ursa Major blows us away with his killer guitar skills, adding a live instrument element that is sadly missing from most R&B music. A refreshing change of pace in hip-hop and R&B, “Around” is confident without being cocky, catchy without being corny, and laid-back without being boring. Rather than being focused on themes of love and arrogance, much of Ursa Major’s lyrics are focused on creativity, breaking the often restrictive molds of hip-hop and R&B. While he currently claims just over 700 followers on SoundCloud, if there is any justice in the world, Ursa Major will soon become a household name. Set aside any preconceived notions you have about the R&B chops of a white teenager from Canada because Ursa Major is the real deal.