HIGH HOPES by Quintana Mills & FRVRFRIDAY

Toronto Music Archive

Quintana Mills teamed up FRVRFRIDAY to drop a hit record titled “HIGH HOPES.” Quintana is one of the more important names in the scene because of how much he has done for Toronto. He’s produced for some big Toronto rappers like the late and great Houdini, and Northside Benji, just to name a few. His wrap sheet is filled with classics and his own solo career is slowly blossoming. Quintana is also one of the most underrated in the scene as an artist, that may be for his lack of releases but I feel like people aren’t giving him his flowers. His production and mix quality is some of the best in the Toronto rap scene and his overall aesthetic is on par with some of the biggest names coming out of the city. That’s because Quintana is already making money in the industry as a producer and engineer. This is also what makes him stand out quality-wise, he can truly control all aspects of his music from the writing to the performing and all the way to the production of it. That is something very few have the ability to do. This leads me to the new single “HIGH HOPES” which features the legend himself, FRVRFRIDAY. As it stands across Quintana’s entire discography this is another melodic masterpiece. FRVRFRIDAY fits like a tight glove on this track. I can’t imagine anyone else featured on this. FRVRFRIDAY delivered a superb performance that really elevated the track. His vocals are so angelic and melodic but also catchy. It really makes you want to listen to the track none stop. The beat selection was great, the high-energy drum pattern mixed with the larger-than-life piano melody really set the tone for the track. The atmosphere as showcased in the visuals has this dark city aesthetic to it, I can feel that in the instrumentals. The emotion of the track is really well displayed through instrumentals and lyrics, it being uplifting. Quintana has one of the more melodic rap cadences in the city. He really takes it to another level on this track. He delivers some great melodies and harmonies throughout his performance. Something that is aided by his mixing technique giving him a unique and slightly autotuned vocal style. He has built his sound around his production and his fellow peers like Benji. There is a sound style that Benji and Quintana have mastered. It’s one of the most sought-after sound styles in the city. This gives Quintana an edge over everyone else. His production and engineering roots and main stake in the industry really give him the upper hand in making his mark. His music is radio-ready. This is due to the quality mix and master which a lot of artists lack, even some bigger names who I won’t mention. Quintana is an artist that is truly one track away from becoming the biggest in the city and reaching mainstream success. He has the look, sound, and resources to make music on a different type of level and consistency than any other rapper in the city. I hope he improves on the consistency side of his career though. This was his first release since 2021. That is something that will continue to hold him back unless he begins to really flood the scene. This big collaboration is the exact thing he needs to continue to do right now. Build hype and recognition across the city so that he can eventually release his full-length debut album to really take over the city.