“Dujon sounds ready” – Billboard Reviews Success EP

DUJON, “Success”

Toronto native Dujon follows his ambitious 2009 mix-tape “19 Steps To Success” with five-track EP “Success,” showcasing the rapper’s skills as producer and frontman—as well as autobiographical songwriter. In opening track “Illi Intro,” he reflects on the early days: “DJ by the sixth grade, making mixtapes, I was amazed when the shit played,” complete with a riotous “Disco Duck” enhanced vocal. On the finger-snapping “If U Were Me,” Dujon states his case, lamenting about the death of his mother: “If you were haunted by your memories, and makin’ music was the only way to set ‘em free…” but still manages to have a fine time as he jokes, “What if your name was similar to a condiment?” Overall, it’s a dark number, driven by a nervous, pensive beat, but nicely contoured with sung layered choruses. Making an encore appearance is “Everything But the Girl,” which Dujon released as a single last year, garnering radio airplay from nearly a dozen Quebec outlets. That remains his greatest bid for potential mainstream success, with a robust, upfront rap, retro New York freestyle production, swirling harmonies and a keen message that “A lot of things I already got—except a girl who I love, and is really hot.” Dujon offers a fine balance between the expected elements of hip-hop, attention to melody—which is missing from so much of modern rap fare—and enough humor to temper the rough and tumble variables of the genre. And youth is also on his side. Dujon sounds ready to evolve into the main course.

- Cortney Harding, Billboard Discoveries

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