New Rap Music
It’s been a long time… I’ve been pretty lax about posting new rap music on the Tumblr lately, so I figured I’d make up for the lapse by bringing the old New Rap Music column back. For those just joining us, this is the post where I share recently released rap songs. And before you jump all on my dick about what you’ve had for days understand that recently can be any time in the past six months or so. I’m not on fucking Nah Right time here, I just want to write about rap songs that are good.
Freeway f/ Peedi Crakk – “Snappa Pow“
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from Diamond In The Ruff (Rhymesayers, Coming Soon)
One of the problems I had with The Stimulus Package was that it was too limited a palette. Jake One is a very adaptable producer but it seemed like there his hands were tied by the famous rapper, that he was deferring to the “talent” and giving him Freeway-esque beats. You know, Chipmunk soul. I think now that they’ve established a rapport we’re going to hear them taking more risks together. The Jake produced “Snappa Pow” definitely feels more “Roc The Mic” than “It’s Not Right” and that’s exactly the energy level that the State Prop clique needs to be at if anyones going to continue to care about them. (See also: Young Chris’ name drop heavy but kinda banging “Philly Shit.”) The beat isn’t mindblowing, it’s pretty much a rehash of any number of radio rap records from five years ago (or a New York radio hit of today! Hyo) but a perfect vehicle for him and Peedi to trade bars over. Every time they rap together I’m reminded of that Young America interview where Peedi talks about Freeway’s childhood ninja costume.
Kendrick Lamar – “Look Out For Detox“
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Of the many LA rappers dwelling in the neo-Pharcyde, 2 Dope Boyzian slums, Kendrick Lamar stands as one of just a few who is on the brink of actually bringing something unique to the table. He’s an adaptable rapper, able to appeal to a more modern/populist sensibility with tracks ala “Michael Jordan while still doing backpack leaning music like “I Do This” and doing it well, no LL. Aside from the inherent corniness of framing your song around a love letter to Dr. Dre, “Look Out For Detox” is another step in the right direction. He is styling particularly tough on this and pretty hilariously at some points: “My BFF is a BM-dub.”One annoying thing he does – and I think he thinks it’s cute – is that he kind of lets his style fall apart near the end of the track. His voice starts cracking and he just loses the beat, blaming it on the kush. I guess that’s a stylistic choice in of itself but it does kind of strip the track of its purpose which is to show us how good Kendrick can rap. Or maybe I’m reading into it and the breakdown is genuine, in which case he should learn to rap better before trying something like this. But I digress from my haterish turn, Lamar is taking more risks as a rapper than most of his peers and that should be commended.
Pyramid Vritra – “Fin”
From Pyramid (NRK, Coming Soon)
Before the Odd Future buzz machine exploded, it was interesting to witness how rapidly their aesthetic and attitude seemed to have spread within their growing crew and extended circle. (If you poke around now member Mike G’s old blog, for example, you’ll find him jocking Tyler, not as crew but as a fan.) Apart from the dozen or so members that make up the crew’s core there’s a small smattering of devotees all over LA, the country and internet who have been making OFish music since well before they were on our or the Pitchfork radar. It’s that old Velvet Underground theory – not a lot of people heard their music but most that did went on to make music of their own. Anyway, Pyramid Vritra is a member of the Nobody Really Knows collective, who are loosely connected to the OF empire by way of producer Matt Martian of The Super 3. They’re cut from the same cloth as the Wolf Gang but are a little more shoegazey and a little less likely to spit in your face. Like his split offering with Walter Flowers from earlier this year, “Fin” is simply epic – a meandering and surrealistic seven minute long story rap with several beat change ups. Here is another nice cut from Vritra and his NRK partner Tyler Major, lamenting their post-High School woes over the Nas “Purple” instrumental.
Soulja Boy – “Skateboarding“
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from Soulja Society (Mixtape, 2010)
And speaking of influence, just listen until about the two minute mark of this and then tell me if you can guess who Soulja’s new favorite rappers are. Oh and dude’s suddenly into skating now because he’s a real cool guy. He’s Zeliging again.
Swizz Beatz f/ DMX & Busta Rhymes – “Y’All Don’t Really Know“
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from Monster Mondays (Basquiat Music, 2010)
Swizzy resurrects Dark Man X for the latest installment in his laughably biterish Monster Mondays series, available on his laughably named BASQUIAT MUSIC website. (Art!) But X sounds pretty good for a burnout and it’s cool to see Swizz revisiting his roots, all Ruff Ryders fight music and none of those clinking coke bottles that he is always shoving into our ears. I wonder if the recent critical interest in the Tunnel era will eventually spill over into the creative world. Dudes are going to fuck around and bring back shouting at nobody over Casio synth riffs.
Philthy Rich f/ Dubb 20 & Rydah J Klyde – “Spit Real“
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I really need to start paying more attention the Livewire/DJ Fresh axis of Bay rap. I mean there is so much happening in this beat – hiccups and clanks and robots powering down – I can’t even really digest the rapping but LMAO at “I get gouda / a real life shooter / be off in them streets while you on the computer / Dubb don’t do the blogging / I’m so used to robbin.”(via Thizzler)
Gunplay f/ Waka Flocka – “Rollin“
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from I Don’t Know Whatever The Hell Gunplay Puts Out (Maybach Music, 2010)
Slim Dunkin f/ Roscoe Dash – “Swisher“
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from Menace II Society (Mixtape, 2010)
Will 2010 go down in history as the year of weed carrier revolution? First ex-Gucci carrier Flocka teams up with Ricky Rozay’s bag man for a record that makes me want to punch my own mother and then Flocka’s own carrier, Slim Dunkin, drops a very solid tape in his own right. “Swisher” is a logical successor to “No Hands.” That awesome midpoint between Roscoe/Travie P swagger rap and Lex Lugerish fight music. I’ll probably get a lot of shit for saying so but I think Roscoe Dash can be a really good rapper in small doses, with a penchant for weird imagery and run on flows built around Eminem style internal forced rhymes that don’t actually rhyme. His whiney voice is a lot to take in for three minutes but in a one off guest capacity he kills.
Wooh Da Kid – “Danger“
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from Black Out (Mixtape, 2010)
This. Fucking Beat. Whenever I post a song like this people in the comments get all worked up and compare this stuff to dubstep but, like Young L’s recent out, there’s something really dry and mechanical about the production. Southside On The Track’s uh track is not all sidechained and warbly and that’s why it’s better for rapping to than whatever sub bass farts are hot in the UK streets. Anyway Black Out is fucking great. Brick Squad is fucking great. Just kill yourself already if you can’t bang this shit.
LDJ f/ Jim Jones & Reddbone – “Da Baseline“
from I Don’t Fucking Know (Internet, 2010)
Now here’s an openly dubstep inspired record – they even listen to dubstep in the video – that doesn’t exactly sound like dubstep either. LDJ’s gigantic beat is like a modern day Original Concept. But the rapping is unforgivable. And Redman’s standing right there! Let him rap! There’s something particularly tragic about the video too, with Jimmy seeming even more blunted than usual and Reddbone’s makeup pasted on to give her a permanent look of despair.
Tumblin' Erb
November 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Dude, you have no idea how happy I am to see a new one of these posts on this site again.
November 22nd, 2010 at 11:01 pm
It is good to start seeing love to “Black Out”, as it is a great mixtape, and Southside on tha Track is a one or two “hits” from being on the list of way too many rappers who want a hot track. I always forget about “Danger”, as the track is rewound nearly 2 minutes in, and that is a sure fire way for me to skip a track, which is a sad thing considering this a great track.
November 22nd, 2010 at 11:06 pm
The only way I could semi explain L’s tape to my friends was, a mix between “Tango N’ Vectif” and a broken Pac Man machine.
November 22nd, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Do we mind Soulja #Based? Or just shrug and hope the money trickles down?
November 22nd, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Also I really like the Roscoe Dash verse on “No Hands”: “No need to elaborate (Never!) / Most of these ducks exaggerate (They do!)” works for me.
November 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
i am so effing pumped that you are back. quality over quantity, noz. thank you.
November 23rd, 2010 at 1:34 am
DJ Fresh is the best producer of 2010.
November 23rd, 2010 at 2:52 am
‘skateboarding,’ until the odd future spazz-out, sounds like a direct Curren$y bite. cosign on wooh da kid & slim dunkin shit. i think rydah’s best verse is on ‘real pain’ off that philthy album tho, its a pac remake that is actually worth it
November 23rd, 2010 at 6:58 am
me and matt make up the jet age of tomorrow and the super 3. “journey to the 5th echelon” releases on oddfuture.com on jan 23. @jetageoftomorrow
nrk and OF have alot of amazing shit dropping in 2011. keep watch.
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:06 am
“snappa pow” sounds like this busta rhymes song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7DTG_O5zow
November 23rd, 2010 at 9:19 am
YES YES YES YES YES! I’ve been missing these posts like crazy.
November 23rd, 2010 at 9:25 am
“I’m not on fucking Nah Right time here” you are fucking hilarious!!!
I wanna be like you. what can i do to become a better writer?
November 23rd, 2010 at 9:41 am
“what can i do to become a better writer?”
Write more, as much as possible.
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:00 am
I think Soulja Boy’s trying to find his own based niche by combining his new Curren$y influenced flow with based style rambling/beat choice and Odd Future/TylerCreator “DGAF” aesthetic. Before we scream “biter”, all parties have given their well-wishes to Soulja so I don’t care. I agree with the sentiment that Soulja Boy was letting his desire to still remain relevant interfere with making uninhibited based music, but then I heard “London.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4zBTxZ-OfM
I think he’s got it down now and is comfortable with himself doing it. I mean, he’s also done songs before this where he seemed completely fine with doing solo based music.
I also thought it was strange he suddenly was getting into skateboarding but whatever. Who is to say he wasn’t previously into skateboarding before he made videos about it?
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:02 am
I think his based style is more about funny, purposely half-hearted gangsta/bling rap than calling himself a faggot unicorn alien robot that looks like Molly Ringwald.
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:41 am
The monotone Curren$y flow actually feeds into the based style better, as an afterthought. It’s actually pretty well-constructed and ambient.
November 23rd, 2010 at 3:35 pm
that soulja boy track is anti swag.
i like his shit sometimes but that song is reachin’
great post tho… those NRK cats is coo
November 23rd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
reddbone looks like a pronstar in that vid
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I’m not a big fan of rap and rnb music, but i think that’s a great list. i wanna try to listen one of those songs, what’s the best one?
November 24th, 2010 at 1:24 am
yeah soulja been using lil b style for like the whole year. its cool tho, he givin lil b more recognition.
November 24th, 2010 at 5:31 am
“Not all sidechained”; damn Noz you gettin’ technical.
November 24th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Soulja & Lil B have a symbiotic relationship when it comes to music. They feed off each other. Lil B couldn’t have taken off without Soulja Boy opening up the pathway and Soulja Boy is improving in adding more character to his music.
November 24th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
noz do u like this tip/em song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFF_0ES4B-w
i kinda do
November 25th, 2010 at 2:21 am
holy shit cant wait for more new dmx
November 25th, 2010 at 2:29 am
also lol at cool dude Roy. that is such a good comparison.
November 25th, 2010 at 2:48 am
kendrick lamar sounds like a lazy rifleman, at least he’ll have good production.
November 25th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
soulja boy’s too stupid and happy to ever really be able to bite tyler.
November 25th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
p.s. who else has said that brrrrr stick em line lately? busta says it on that swizz track, but i can’t remember where else i heard that recently. people have been saying that shit forever.
November 25th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Really nice to see peedi krack back again (he might been back years ago, i don’t know), and with freeway especially. A part from that, the Dj Fresh song and the Wooh da kid song was nice. Thanks.
This song should’ve been on your list though, if not for the rapping then surely for the production.
and no, its not dubstep.
to advertise in the same spirit as you, if you don’t like this its cause you’z a yankee wanka.
November 25th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ0RZq70Y1o
November 25th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
On a side note:
Noz@tumblr:”Someone’s gonna have to translate this one for me. 12 Rods?
In the site’s 15 year existence Kanye is the first hip hop artist to receive the coveted 10.0 rating upon the release of his album. If you account for the retroactive/reissue list – which also includes the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique – he still stands as the only black rapper to do so.”
are you serious?
November 26th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Noz, now that I’ve had a few listens, I’ve really noticed how the Kendrick Lamar song is super similar to Soulja Boy’s Pow you posted ages ago. What do you think?
November 26th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
[...] New Rap Music by Noz [...]
November 29th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
It’s taken a few plays but the Free & Peedi song has just clicked for me today.
November 29th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
That Pyramid Vritra song sounds even more DefJux-ish than the standard issue OFWG stuff. I mean, it’s a rad track, but it wouldn’t sound out of place on ‘Bazooka Tooth.’ Are we really bringing this sound back? How long until the Can Ox reunion?
November 29th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
I am ready for a Can Ox reunion but I don’t think Vast and Vordul are.
November 29th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
“Noz, now that I’ve had a few listens, I’ve really noticed how the Kendrick Lamar song is super similar to Soulja Boy’s Pow you posted ages ago. What do you think?”
Yeah I can see that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWJJ6WHy89Q
November 29th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Is there any way you could re-up the split album you posted from NRK? For some reason I can download it but it won’t let me extract the files.
December 3rd, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Happy with this:
“And before you jump all on my dick about what you’ve had for days understand that recently can be any time in the past six months or so. I’m not on fucking Nah Right time here, I just want to write about rap songs that are good.”
I’d much rather come here and learn about a half-dozen good songs you have something perceptive to say about than read whatever product would result if you were primarily concerned with staying five minutes ahead of the entire internet.
December 4th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I think the Philthy Rich track featuring Dubb 20 & Rydah J Klyde is the dopest! Bay Area rap has been evolving faster than anything else on the scene.
December 4th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
appreciate the write up man. best write up on us thus far.
new NRK release from me called White Light Synopsis. A soundscape album
listen to all NRK music at http://www.nrkpyramids.bandcamp.com
December 7th, 2010 at 12:16 am
why not include latin rappers (reggaeton is not rap)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn4-clxn4Js
PEACE.LOVE.&SACKALINI.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:05 am
i cant rap but i can email whoever wanted the split album, i deleted it offline cus i was about to release something but then i didnt, not on some bitch nigga shit, im just saving it for “pyramid” in november2011
January 16th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
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September 1st, 2011 at 12:34 pm
“I’ll probably get a lot of shit for saying so but I think Roscoe Dash can be a really good rapper in small doses, with a penchant for weird imagery and run on flows built around Eminem style internal forced rhymes that don’t actually rhyme. His whiney voice is a lot to take in for three minutes but in a one off guest capacity he kills”
Couldn’t agree more, Roscoe gets a lot of hate so it’s good to see someone showing some appreciation. While the Dash Effect mixtape is far too long a tape (34 songs!) there are some moments of sheer fun and enjoyment. I recommend you check it out if you have any liking towards Roscoe.