Could there be a more fitting time for AraabMuzik, the Rhode Island-based MPC virtuoso known as Abraham Orellana, to release a sequel to his iconic 2011 album, Digital Dream? This innovative record was both intriguing adn electrifying, featuring a masterful fusion of EDM-inspired synthesizers and robust hip-hop beats. Alongside the emergence of producers like Clams Casino, it struck a chord with millennials yearning for euphoria through electronic exuberance in the wake of the financial downturn. Fast forward to today, artists favored by Gen Z such as Bladee and Nettspend are revitalizing this sound, creating an even more audacious version that has attracted meaningful cult followings.

Still, this may explain why Digital Dream II—while evocative and atmospheric—feels somewhat less vibrant in comparison. Tracks like the ethereal “Til You Tumble” beautifully capture the dreamlike quality of its predecessor. In contrast,others such as “3AM,” along with the less memorable “Half of a World Away,” come off as standard beat tape entries; this could be attributed to AraabMuzikS sound being so influential that it now risks becoming formulaic.

Referring to this project as a sequel to Digital Dream might have been an oversight; while tracks like “Attain out” are daringly aspiring—culminating in an overwhelming auditory experience—they seem disconnected from what one would anticipate from a continuation of such a distinctive album. The desire to produce sequels is understandable; rappers have embraced this concept for years,tapping into nostalgia which has become prevalent across modern artistic expressions—evident even in Madonna’s allusions to Confessions Section II. Yet for an innovator like AraabMuzik, venturing into new territories appears to be the most genuine path ahead.