FIVE RAPPERS U SLEPT ON By Matt Javaly
A lot of shade has been thrown on 2014 with respect to the quality (and quantity) of music output, and most of 2015’s hype has surrounded big-name artists who sat out 2014 in hopes of blowing up this year. But what about those who weren’t on the bench last year? Out of respect for the come-up, here’s a short list of rappers you’ve probably been sleeping on. ISAIAH RASHAD Age: 23 / Origin: Chattanooga, TN Label: TDE / Best Tracks: “West Savannah,” “Banana” Believe it or not, 2014 actually looked salvagable when Cilvia Demo dropped in late January. Despite the label of “EP,” the tape has more insight and better flows than most of the other major-label releases in recent memory. The combination of Rashad’s confidence and relaxed demeanor allow him to deliver personal couplets like, “And if I give my story to the world / I wonder if they book me for a show” in a conversational tone (“Heavenly Father”). His success is in part due to the label itself; Top Dawg Entertainment boasts one of hip hop’s deepest rosters, and what’s more, they’re independent, which prevents much of the bureaucratic interference with the creative process. Talking to Complex last month about ScHoolboy Q’s effect on his music, Rashad remarked, “[H]e showed me that it is more about the showman than the sounds behind it. He showed me how to be an entertainer.” Let’s see if he can’t make 2015 a bit more entertaining… and wake you up in the process. VINCE STAPLES Age: 21 / Origin: Long Beach, CA Label: Def Jam / Best Tracks: “Blue Suede,” “Nate” “With so much drama in the L-B-C, it’s kinda hard bein’ Snoop D-O-double-G” - Snoop Doggy Dogg, “Gin and Juice” (1993). And over twenty years later, the drama in Long Beach ensues. In the face of such adversity, Snoop Dogg had the advantage of a honey-dipped voice capable of rap in double and triple-time without stopping for breath, and ballet-dancing around Dr. Dre’s G-funk beats was the ideal distraction from the glaring social issues plaguing Southern California. Fortunately for music fans, Vince Staples does not have such a luxury. His voice is not smooth, and he lacks the carefree charm of Doggystyle-era Snoop. The leadoff track on 2014’s Hell Can Wait EP, “Fire”, makes clear that he will not attempt to glorify his life: “Believe that, we was thuggin’ on the back streets / Catchin’ cases, probably finna go to Hell anyway,” he groans, while the 808 kicks. His scope is wide enough to cover police racism (“Hands Up”) and doomed relationships (“Limos”), but he never loses himself and his bitterly sarcastic attitude. Additionally, the dark, bass-heavy sound in Staples’ music is representative of an important shift in the hip hop landscape. 2014’s most critically acclaimed rap album, Run The Jewels 2, was a massive political statement with much disdain and little approval. So get your hand off the snooze button? MICK JENKINS Age: 23 / Origin: Chicago, IL Label: Cinematic Music Group / Best Tracks: “Jazz,” “514” Chicago’s hip-hop scene is amorphous, to say the least. While Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper persuade you to Save Money, Chief Keef tries to physically count the amount of automatic guns he owns, and Kanye West has made the conscious decision to raise his family in Los Angeles, CA (“last winter she got so cold on me”…okay, I’ll stop). So Mick Jenkins’ decision to sign with the New York-based Cinematic Music Group should be seen as less of a departure from his roots and more of a diversification of his
