Ty Dolla $ign - Motion Review

When you think of Ty Dolla $ign you envision autotune hooks on DJ Mustard-style rap beats but today he bucks the trend with new song "Motion". Now Ty Dolla $ign is not the first and will not be the last artist in the Rap/R&B hybrid genre to experiment with House but he is definitely the most surprising to say the least. So how did Ty Dolla $ign fare when traversing into uncharted territory with his new single? Let's dive in!

Verses​

The lyrics are standard fare for mainstream House music. The song is about Ty in a nightclub and recanting the energy he experiences when he and his love interest dance together (whether the love interest is a person or a pill can be left to your interpretation). While the subject matter matches the backing composition, the delivery and the overabundance of vocal effects leave a lot to be desired.

From a delivery standpoint it doesn't sound like he approached the verses from the perspective of a House artist. Instead, he took his standard formula, plopped it on a House beat, and here we have "Motion". If he wants to go further in these uncharted waters he is going to have to evolve the way he writes so that it feels more natural. However, Ty would disagree because in his own words:

“Really since ‘Free TC', I had a dance song on there, my first album, so I've always been into that bag. And right now, this just was one of the hottest ones that was on my hard drive. I was like, ‘It's time for this one, summertime.' Different tempos, but doing my kind of music, just having fun.”

Hook​

The Hook is where Ty Dolla $ign shines on "Motion". The phrase “That’s when I get my motion” during the hook is fun, catchy and makes Ty moving into the House genre seem actually feasible. What's also great about the Hook is the simplicity of it. He doesn't overload it with lyrics or effects on the vocals.

Composition​

The House music that backs the entire affair is calm and sophisticated. The energetic drum pattern is kept grounded by piano chords that are placed perfectly in the mix and run from start to finish. The Hook is elevated by a "synthy" siren sound that is the perfect complement to the rather calm arrangment. Ty enlisted the help of veteran producers Will Larsen and Stryv who gave "Motion" the chill sound that makes it feel so posh and modern.

The Video​

The 1990's aesthetic we see in the marketing imagery and video is decent but doesn't seem to mesh with the vibe of the song. It simply doesn't sound retro enough for it pair well with the visuals...but feel free to disagree.

Parting Thoughts​

For a song going out into a pop market place it is high quality and I believe will be in rotation in lounges all across the world. But if you’re a fan of House music you may come away feeling as there was something lacking. Overall I’m glad to hear Ty Dolla Sign taking risks with his music which is emphasized in the quote:

“I got an EP ready, I got a mix tape ready, I got an album ready, I got another type of genre album ready,” he said. “I'm ready, so now it's about spacing it out and properly timing everything the right way. I'll be dropping hella new music and I'm excited for it.”