Hilcrhyme - Mou Bye Bye

Pop/ hip-hip duo, Hilcrhyme independently released their debut single, Mou Bye Bye, in July of 2008. Originally, Mou Bye Bye was released through Nao Plain, but a year later Hilcrhyme signed to Universal and debuted under a major label. On December 2, 2009, Mou Bye Bye was then re-released as a third single.

Haunting, reverberating electric piano chords silence the surrounding air as the first track of the single, Mou Bye Bye, fades in the foreground, filling the space surrounding the silence in the night. Those few memorable seconds sound similar to a well-known 90’s track: You Gotta Be by Des’ree. TOC, one half of Hilcrhyme, spits out something close to “clap that,” and a relaxed beat adds to the song and drives it into motion. TOC’s voice has a unusual character to it; you can sense his youth and humility at the same time. The phrase “mou bye bye” - roughly meaning "already goodbye" - describes that something is missing or has disappeared.

The beginning of the second track, East Area, slams into the listener’s ears with a sizzle. East Area shows a rougher side of the duo not found in the distant first track, Mou Bye Bye. Rap, underground hip-hop and a slither of reggae are a few genres that begin to classify the style heard within East Area. TOC fits well in this song; his tone is a tinge bright, but not too bright, and weathered enough for rap.