CYNE - Growing EP

Review by Karanvir Singh Sangha

Growing EP by CYNE: A Conscious Hip-Hop Gem That Stuck With Me Let’s get one thing straight—CYNE’s Growing EP isn’t your run-of-the-mill hip-hop record. Released in 2004 on City Centre Offices (shoutout to the UK!), this little six-track project packs more depth than a philosophy major at midnight. It’s conscious rap with heart, soul, and just enough instrumental swagger to keep things interesting. Now, full disclosure: I didn’t expect much when I first hit play—it was kinda like ordering coffee from a place you’ve never heard of, only to realize they make the best latte you’ve ever tasted. The production? Smooth as butter. Enoch and Speck handled most of it, but shoutout to Whit Travisano for sprinkling some electric piano magic on tracks like “Stomping Ground” and “The River.” And don’t even get me started on Lula Dawit’s vocals—they’re so smooth, they could sell silk sheets. Standout Tracks: "Rousseau" & "Growing" If I had to pick favorites (and hey, why not?), “Rousseau” takes the cake—or maybe the whole bakery. This track feels like sitting under a tree while someone reads poetry that actually makes sense. Akin and Cise spit bars about growth, awareness, and all that good stuff without sounding preachy. You know how some rappers throw words around like confetti? Not these guys. Every line lands with purpose, and the beat—a mix of vibraphone courtesy of Dave Lebleu and Sander Travisano’s bass—is pure ear candy. Then there’s “Growing,” which is basically an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in life. It’s got this mellow vibe that creeps up on you, kinda like realizing you’ve been humming the same tune for hours. What sticks with me is how raw it feels. No flashy gimmicks, no autotune crutches—just honest lyrics over a beat that’s equal parts jazzy and chill. If self-reflection had a soundtrack, this would be it. Why It Works The album’s strength lies in its simplicity. CYNE doesn’t try too hard to impress; instead, they let the music breathe. Even the instrumentals (“The River [Instrumental]” being my go-to) have this meditative quality that makes you wanna slow down and appreciate the moment. Plus, Mr. Florencio Zavala’s artwork perfectly matches the mood—minimalist yet striking, like a doodle that turns out to be profound. Oh, and props to Loop-o for mastering and editing because everything sounds crisp. Like, really crisp. It’s the audio equivalent of biting into a perfectly ripe apple. Final Thoughts So yeah, Growing EP might fly under the radar compared to bigger names in conscious hip-hop, but trust me, it deserves attention. Listening to it feels like finding an old journal entry you wrote during a particularly wise phase of your life. Sure, it’s short—only eight tracks—but sometimes less is more. And here’s the kicker: after spinning this album, I found myself Googling Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Who knew a rapper could inspire a deep dive into Enlightenment philosophy? Guess that’s what happens when art sneaks up on you.

Artist: CYNE
Album: Growing EP

Hip Hop

Conscious

2004

Rating: 4.0

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Filename: cyne-growing-ep.zip

MP3 size: 34.4 mb
FLAC size: 365.6 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Rousseau
Growing (Instrumental)
Rousseau (Instrumental)
The River (Instrumental)
Growing
Stomping Ground
The River
Stomping Ground (Instrumental)

Video

Growing - Cyne - Evolution Flight

Cyne - The River

Cyne - Stomping Ground

Images

Catalog Numbers

BLOCK 026

Labels

City Centre Offices

Listen online

lytte på nettet
ascolta in linea
ouvir online
escuchar en línea
online anhören
écouter en ligne
kuunnella verkossa
online luisteren
lyssna på nätet

Formats

Vinyl
12"
EP
White Label
33 ⅓ RPM

Credits

Role	Credit
Arranged By	Enoch, Speck
Artwork By	Mr. Florencio Zavala
Bass	Sander Travisano (tracks: A1, A3)
Electric Piano	Whit Travisano (tracks: A1, A3)
Mastered By	Loop-o
Edited By	Loop-o
Mixed By	Enoch, Speck
Performer	Akin, Cise, Enoch, Speck
Photography	Heather Culp
Producer	Enoch, Speck
Vibraphone	Dave Lebleu (tracks: A1, A3)
Vocals	Lula Dawit (tracks: A1, A3)
Written-By	CYNE

About CYNE

American hip-hop group, from Gainesville, Florida. Often stylized as CYNE (pronounced "sign") and stands for "Cultivating Your New Experience". Former members: MCs (Clyde Graham), and producers (Michael Gersten), (David Newell).

Real Name

C. Graham (Cise Star)
A. Yai (Akin)
M. Gersten (Speck)
D. Newell (Enoch)

Name Vars

CYNE
µ¤ó

Members

Michael Gersten
Akin Yai
Clyde Graham
David Newell

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that CYNE's *Growing EP*, released in 2004, blends conscious hip-hop with live instrumentation? Tracks like "Stomping Ground" and "The River" feature a vibraphone played by Dave Lebleu, adding a jazzy twist to the album. The artwork was crafted by Mr. Florencio Zavala, while Lula Dawit’s vocals bring soulful depth to a couple of tracks. It’s a mix of thoughtful lyrics, rich sounds, and meticulous production—all coming together for a truly unique listening experience.