A short, heavy-grooving basement track built on rich vocal harmonies. Angel (Original)
: A standout, vibrant, and understated track that perfectly captures the hazy, smooth essence of late-night neo-soul.
: A tribute to the spirit of Roy Ayers, mixing soul with jazz.
CD release of the tape that Dwele recorded and released himself in '98/'99. Tracks 12-14 are just silence before the extra tracks. Find a Way: How Dwele Gave Up Rap and Found Soul
Marcus had always been a quiet collector of moments that felt like breath: a train station at dawn, the smell of rain on asphalt, a line of verse that looped in his head for days. Dwele’s voice moved through those moments with the ease of someone who’d learned to sing from memory and heart. The opening track unfolded like sunlight through blinds—soft piano, a brushed snare—then Dwele’s tone: warm, intimate, a conversation that required no reply.
The album's total length is 45:34. Dwele would later describe The Rize as being more hip-hop than his later work, which would evolve to incorporate more jazz influences.
The Sonic Genesis of Detroit Neo-Soul: A Deep Dive into Dwele’s Rize
The album is an unhurried collection of demos from 1998 and 1999, blending '70s Detroit soul with modal jazz.
: By adding his own smooth vocals to Freddie Hubbard's iconic composition, Dwele proved his deep respect for traditional jazz while making it accessible to a hip-hop generation.
One of the album's greatest strengths is its refusal to be boxed in. While radio was dominated by the snap-and-b crunk era of the mid-2000s, Dwele was crafting songs that appealed to the hip-hop head as much as the R&B lover. The beats knock hard enough to ride to, yet the melodies are sophisticated enough to unwind to after a long day.
If you are searching for a or a rare physical copy
Vibrant, soulful, and universally considered one of the absolute standouts of the project. Groove (Live Jazzy Ish)
Released in 2007, "Rize" is the second studio album by American electronic music artist Dwele. The album features 15 tracks, not 32, but I assume that's what you're referring to.
Rize explores themes of love, urban storytelling, and musical vulnerability.
: Typically featured 19 tracks with a total runtime of approximately 45 minutes.