Once upon a time in a universe far, far away, HipHopDX used to host blogs. Through Meka, Brillyance, Aliya Ewing and others, readers got unfiltered opinions on the most current topics in and beyond Hip Hop. After a few years, a couple redesigns and the collective vision of three different Editors-In-Chief, blogs are back. Well, sort of. Since our blog section went the way of two-way pagers and physical mixtapes, Twitter, Instagram and Ustream have further accelerated the pace of current events in Hip Hop. Rappers beef with each other 140 characters at a time, entire mixtapes (and their associated artwork) can be released via Instagram, and sometimes these events require a rapid reaction.
As such, we’re reserving this space for a weekly reaction to Hip Hop’s current events. Or whatever else we deem worthy. And the “we” in question is me, Andre Grant, and Ural Garrett. Collectively we serve as HipHopDX’s Features Staff. Aside from tackling stray topics, we may invite artists and other personalities in Hip Hop to join the conversation. Without further delay, here’s this week’s “Stray Shots.”
Vince Staples
Album: Summertime 06
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Average Banger Potential – 90%
Andre: This one’s sure to be a banger. Hell Can Wait was a sobering rollick into actual gang life. He put you in the car with him, beasts strapped, knuckled down and smoke spinning up in their little bubble: “You ‘bout to find out how much you love your homie.” And we can’t forget that. Def Jam took care of him last time, and I expect the same to happen this time. We should see an appearance by some Holy Ghost’s of the rap game on production with No ID running the ship there. And did you hear “Senorita?” Dios Mio!
Ural: Bar for bar the most technically proficient emcee on the roster, Vince Staples truly has one of the most anticipated debuts this year. Last year’s Hell Can Wait EP was easily better than most rapper’s full-length albums for two reasons. The Long Beach rapper was able to keep his penchant for poignant street lyricism in check with purposely reckless production. Only 23 minutes, Staples made use of every moment effortlessly. For his upcoming Summertime 06project, the chances of his first official album on Def Jam are fairly high. The project’s phenomenal first single “Señorita” and the accompanying video only enhance the odds.
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Tink
Album:Think Tink
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Average Banger Potential – Ural: Between 75% – 80%
Andre: Her vibe continues to be all over the damn place. She’s got some Lauryn in her and some Aaliyah. And you have to pay attention when acts as disparate as Future Brown, then Timbaland and Bats For Lashes fuck with her. She’s a Chi-town native with a true blues soul. She can rock a show, too, as she showed at her Red Bulls 30 Days In L.A. performance at the palladium when she opened for A$AP Mob. My only worries are, well, Timbaland. Can he still help shape an artist the way he did Missy and Aaliyah? Will he saddle her with Magoo part two like some Microsoft bloatware to go with your OS? Only time will tell.
Ural: Considering Chicago’s various Hip Hop scenes, Tink could be the city’s wildcard. From her steady mixtape game to landing an unusual(and pretty dope) feature with Sleigh Bells, Tink was destined for greatness. That potential grew significantly when she aligned herself with one of the music’s greatest super-producers, Timbaland. Then there was the moment that her removed verse from “Movin’ Bass” actually outshined original artists Rick Ross and Jay Z. For her upcoming first outing, Think Tink, two interesting singles have dropped to positive reception. “Ratchet Commandments” and “Million” managing to showcase her way above average singing and rhyming.
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OG Maco
Album: Children Of The Rage
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Average Banger Potential – Ural: Between 65% – 70%
Andre: Maco’s an interesting character. His 15 EP solidified him as more than “U Guessed It” and he’s been walking around taking shots at various thrones. In theory, this is how you do it. You kill your idols before stepping over their corpses into the seat you’ve fashioned for yourself. My concern is whether or not he’s ready for that kind of responsibility. There hasn’t been a solo artist out of Atlanta since Future to take it anywhere. But he seems smart and, more than anything else, dangerously intuitive.
Ural: Atlanta’s current prince of chaos OG Maco hasn’t managed to capture the same gold “U Guessed It” earned last year. However, that doesn’t mean that everything from his OG Maco and Breathe to 15 EPs lacked quality. In fact, they were the total opposite. The production ran the gambit of different sounds to allow Mr. OGG a variety of various approaches to rhymes. At this point, he’s more than proven his abilities outside of “turn-ups.” Even he himself called “U Guessed It” pretty stupid but understands exactly what works today. What should listeners expect? The rawest emotion in every sense.
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Goldlink
Album: Untitled
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Banger Potential – 85%
Andre: Electro-rap or whatever the hell that is (it sounds like an Iron Man villain) is where this dude’s music lines up. Goldlink likes to give out cross-sectional takes on his sonics to shut up journo’s, but it’s not really that. The thing that the “zing” masks is good old southern soul. Or that version of southern soul the DMV is good for. If you want to talk about musical melting pots, then the District certainly is one. His mixtape The God Complex dropped last year to much acclaim and with the whole deal with the “Freshman” cover ratcheted things up a notch. He’s dropped a single this year, “Sober Thoughts,” and the video is neither visceral or haunting, just hazier with electrons dissipating into thin air. Will he be able to string tracks together in a way that matter, though? That will be the hurdle for this young emcee.
Ural: DMV emcee Goldlink was equally a surprise and obvious selection. Considering his peers, he’s the weirdest choice. His interesting hodgepodge of various sonics from classic house to bachata gives him the most star potential out of anyone on the list. Then again, those same dope attributes may turn away the masses who may be more concerned with other things. Regardless, Goldlink is in his own lane at the moment. The God Complex is the type of progressive shot of adrenaline that Hip Hop needs. Then again, behind those inspired production choices comes Goldlink’s great vocal delivery. Right now, the future is as unclear as it is exciting.
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Fetty Wap
Album: Untitled
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Banger Potential – 40%
Andre: Real talk, I expect absolutely nothing from the guy who sings “Trap Queen.” Right now, for me, he’s still a hood X-Men member, and singing in weird tonal mutations is his superpower. The song is so feel good that you forget it’s about a woman being down with cooking your crack. Every queen needs a king, yo. But, for real, “My Way” just got a coveted Drake feature although it seems to not be making the kind of headway that you’d expect. So for Fetty Wap the jury’s still out. But I’m down for being wrong so good. I am.
Ural: Released over a year ago, the story of how “Trap Queen” made its way to Pop music’s upper echelon proves why XXL Freshmen list is very “today.” What currently makes an artist hot has absolutely nothing to do with subjective quality in this era of social media. It’s about who hears what and how viral something becomes. The success of “Trap Queen” came with various Vines, Instagrams and everything else in-between. Then again, on its own merit, Zoo Wap’s rap/R&B ditty about his down ass chick managed to resonate with mainstream just enough. Even visually, the New Jersey’s glaucoma affected cornea made him the most popular one eyed rapper since Slick Rick.
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Honorable Mention: Raury
Andre:Indigo Child was for the future of music. It didn’t quite get there, but it‘s intriguing enough to warrant interest in his next project. Plus, anyone who wears an “industry plant” tee to his cover shoot is someone I can root for.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
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Ural Garrett is a Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg.
