B-Side Guys

Berlin-based artist Devantier Rain opens “PHANTOM OF THE DRAMA” with a striking juxtaposition: the warm, collective voices of a Cameroonian choir give way to a meticulously crafted boom-bap beat. This deliberate sonic transition serves as the perfect introduction to an artist navigating multiple identities and musical traditions.

The German-Cameroonian multi-instrumentalist draws clear inspiration from Smino’s “SPINZ” while carving out his own distinctive space in the alternative hip-hop landscape. What distinguishes Rain’s approach is how he weaves his heritage into contemporary production without resorting to superficial fusion. The Cameroonian choir functions not as exotic ornamentation but as foundational texture, establishing an emotional baseline that anchors the track’s exploration of unrecognized devotion.

Rain’s production choices reveal a musician deeply versed in both boom-bap traditions and R&B’s melodic sensibilities. The soulful bassline functions as both rhythmic engine and emotional undercurrent, creating space for his reflections on the disconnect between demonstrative actions and their reception. This thematic focus on unacknowledged love efforts resonates across cultural contexts, giving the track a universal quality despite its specific cultural touchpoints.

Behind the laid-back delivery lies careful attention to sonic architecture. Each element—from the choir’s harmonic richness to the understated percussion patterns—occupies its own frequency range, creating a soundscape that feels simultaneously expansive and intimate. This production approach mirrors the track’s thematic territory: the vast distance that can develop between lovers despite physical proximity.

As the Berlin music scene continues evolving into one of Europe’s most diverse artistic environments, Rain represents a new generation of musicians whose backgrounds transcend single-culture categorizations. His work doesn’t merely blend influences but reconstitutes them through a diasporic imagination—one that understands how traditions change when transported across continents and generations.

“PHANTOM OF THE DRAMA” exemplifies how contemporary artists can honor musical lineages while refusing to be confined by them, creating work that exists at the intersection of personal history, cultural heritage, and artistic innovation.