The musician is out with another single titled Glory which leaves a sound that seems to be eternal and yet intense in its newness. The song is constructed on heavy drums, cut soul samples and a funky, unswerving beat. Glory is driven by own instinct and pure emotion. The orientation of the song was clear as soon as the beat came on. The flow was governed by the energy, the lyrics were affected by the mood and all others just came into place naturally. No experiments were done with alternative approaches, no special vocal effects and no hesitation. The song was recorded in a single take, which reflects the urgency, confidence and crispness that come through every note.
The recording is characterized by a light, easy background that was composed by Bathgate whose true name is William Dabbs. It is augmented with a plain but powerful sample by Slick Rick that solidly fixed the hook into place. Glory appeals directly to the spirit of 1990s street hip-hop, hard and bassline-driven with its rough drum breaks and the honest and unapologetic quality of the 808 bassline. Simultaneously, it also demonstrates a definite artistic growth. The song displays more intelligent choices, more clean structure, and more sophisticated sense of space and influence.
Glory is not just a praise of the old. It is a huge stride that proves that, even old-school boom-bap hip-hop can develop and evolve with new professionalism, new appetite, and a new sense of purpose.
Listen to Glory below
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“Glory” has a distinct sonic identity. What elements did you prioritize first — the beat, the flow, or the atmosphere?
For us, the beat always sets the tone. As soon as that beat dropped, it immediately dictated the flow and the direction of what I was going to write. Once I heard it, I caught a vibe instantly — no hesitation. The energy was there, the atmosphere was already built into the production, and from that moment the magic just happened naturally. The beat led the way, and everything else fell perfectly into place.
The rhythm on “Glory” hits with real intention. How did you approach the groove and tempo for this record?
The tempo and flow are always distinguished by the tempo of the beat. Once that foundation is locked in, everything else falls into place. My goal is to flow in rhythm at all times—no wasted motion, no wasted breath. I want every bar to sit perfectly in the pocket.
When I approached “Glory,” I made sure the beat carried that drive and urgency, because my rhyme intention is always to deliver a sound filled with grit and hunger. That’s my style. I want you to feel the determination, the pressure, and the passion in every line. The groove set the pace, and I matched it with the intensity and raw energy the track demanded.
Did you experiment with any new production techniques, mixing styles, or vocal processing on this track?
Honestly, there was no experimentation, no abstract mixing styles, and no special vocal processing techniques used on this record. I kept everything raw and authentic. I relied on my voice and my flow to make it possible. The energy you hear is straight intention, grit, and confidence. I wanted the record to stand on pure skill and delivery—no tricks, no shortcuts, just me locking in and bringing that hunger to the mic
Were there any unexpected musical influences — genres, artists, or eras — that shaped the sound of “Glory”?
Honestly, there was no real influence behind the making of this song. I heard the beat, and everything just clicked — the stars, the planets, and the moons aligned precisely, and an automatic classic was made. Sometimes the magic happens without overthinking it or pulling from anything specific. I just hope the people feel what I did when it came together. “Glory” is exactly what it’s supposed to be.
How did the hook or main motif come together? Was it immediate or did it take multiple versions?
In Bathgate’s — also known as William Dabbs’ — production of the beat, the vibe was already smooth and laid-back. The foundation felt so good that it didn’t need anything over-the-top or complicated. All it needed was something simple but powerful to tie everything together. That’s when we decided to add the Slick Rick sample into the mix. Once we dropped that in, everything locked into place. It was immediate — the hook just fit naturally with the production and elevated the whole record without needing multiple versions.
The track has a bold presence. What choices in arrangement or sound design contribute most to that impact?
The bold presence of “Glory” comes from the way the arrangement was built to hit you right in the chest. I leaned heavily on chopped soul samples over perfectly chopped drum loops, and that combination really defines the impact. The drums hit in a demanding way that sets the groove for the rest of the song — they don’t ask for attention, they take it. Once that foundation was locked in, everything else fell into place around that energy, giving the track its powerful, commanding feel from the very first bar.
How did you choose the drum pattern and bassline? They drive the track — what feel were you aiming for?
When I built the foundation for Glory, I kept it raw and intentional. The bassline is a simple 808 tone straight from that classic ’80s drum-machine feel, paired with a perfectly selected, chopped drum break. I wasn’t trying to overthink it — I wanted that “in-the-pocket” groove that locks you in as soon as it hits. Once the drums and 808 sat together just right, the whole track had that grit, movement, and head-nod energy I was aiming for.
Did “Glory” start with a beat that already existed, or was the instrumental built around your lyrical idea?
Actually, the opposite happened. The beat was already done. Once I heard it, I knew exactly what direction I wanted to take. All I had to do was add the final touches with my vocals. The instrumental already had the energy and intensity it needed — my job was just to match that vibe, lock into the pocket, and bring the lyrics to life.
If you had to place “Glory” within a lineage of hip-hop sounds, what era or style would you say it connects to?
If I had to place “Glory” within a lineage of hip-hop sounds, I would say it connects directly to that classic ’90s street hip-hop era. That raw, unfiltered, boom-bap energy is the foundation of who we are. The moment the beat drops, you can hear that authentic street feel—the grit, the hunger, the unapologetic confidence—that defined the golden era of hip-hop. We didn’t set out to chase trends or mimic anything modern. Glory naturally fell into that lane because that’s the cloth we’re cut from. It carries the spirit of ’90s street music but delivered through our own voice, our own experience, and our own chemistry as a group.
Did you record multiple versions or flows before settling on the final delivery? What made the final take the right one?
“It was done in one take. There were no multiple versions or alternate flows. Will sent over a reference track for me to lay the vocals on, and once I heard it, I knew exactly how I wanted to attack it. I went straight in, put my vocals down, and sent it back to him as a Pro Tools file. That first take captured the raw energy and intent we wanted — nothing else was needed.”
How does “Glory” push your sound forward compared to your earlier work — musically, not just thematically?
“Glory” pushes my sound forward in a way that feels both evolved and true to the foundation we’ve always stood on. Musically, this record sharpens everything — the drums hit harder, the sample choice is more intentional, and the overall arrangement feels cleaner and more refined than a lot of my earlier work.
I’ve grown as a producer, as an engineer, and as a collaborator, and you can hear that in the mix, the space, and the way every element sits exactly where it needs to be. At the same time, the sounds that “Glory” pushed is the sounds of Earatik Statik perfectly. That raw, gritty, unapologetic street energy is still there — but now it’s delivered with a maturity and precision that comes from years of growth and experience.
It’s like taking the classic DNA of what we do and leveling it up with today’s mindset, today’s skill set, and today’s hunger. So musically, “Glory” isn’t just a return — it’s a progression. It’s us proving that we can still bring that smash-mouth boom-bap energy, but now with a sharper edge and a bigger, more polished sound.
