“Talk, talk, talk: the utter and heartbreaking stupidity of words.”
― William Faulkner, Mosquitoes
1. Southern Playas (Clay James & Messiah Da Rapper) ft. Mike Fresh – “How I Do” prod. by FKi
What are you supposed to say when 3 young rappers from Atlanta going by the name “Southern Playas” record a song that sounds like it belongs on a 2006 hyphy comp alongside Keak da Sneak? You warn people about stepping on your 15 hunnid-dollar shoes.
Speaking of shoes, in contrast with My Favorite Bay Area Rap Video Of All Time, the Southern Playas don’t seem to have any problems with paper not flowing. Their sneakers cost 4 digits, they’re wearing Margiela just to make you jealous, and hoes want to give them head solely based on their Klout scores.
Then again, boasting about your Klout score is pretty Bay Area.
2. Dino BAM – “FDYM” prod. by Ric & Thadeus
“Featured on Wale’s Festivus tape” is Dino BAM’s claim to fame on Twitter. In 2011, Wale was the recipient of a BET Music Award for “Best Club Banger” for his contribution to Waka Flocka Flame’s “No Hands.” Dino BAM very well might receive a similar distinction one day.
3. Zerolex – “Supreme Readiness ft. SelfSays & Illingsworth”
I like Zerolex but I’m worried he might end up making beats with Mac Lethal. In spite of that, “Supreme Readiness” has bite, and SelfSays and Illingsworth can both be forgiven for making up their stage names over a dumpster fire inside the abandoned Def Jux offices.
4. ShaqIsDope – “Off The Ground” prod. by Pitt Tha Kid
Did Pitchfork lose track of Drake?
5. Vonte Vendetta – “Sunset”
Atlanta rapper/director/cinematographer/editor Vonte Vendetta makes summery, atmospheric music despite repping an aggressive rap name that calls to mind bloody family feuds of the Civil War era. Because of this, “Sunset” left me pondering an age old question: if the Hatfields and McCoys had triple lean in their double cups, how would the most famous vendetta in U.S. history have ended? Would it have started at all?
Perhaps this musing distracted me from realizing that “Sunset” is actually just “Nothing Less” by Living Legends. At least I think it is. Like most people in 2015, I don’t listen to Living Legends.
6. Dee$y – “don’t front”
It’s getting to be spring, which means one thing–allergy season. If this much dust is going to send you into fits of asphyxiation, ask your doctor if Allegra is right for you.*
7. Zen – “Send Me x Zen”
Time is a flat circle; we might always be chasing the new house, the better job, the circumstantial change that will finally make us happy and fulfilled. We run, but we never catch it. Similarly, Zen is a little behind the beat here. On second thought, maybe Zen isn’t racing to make his grass greener at all, but rather is slowed down by the greenness of his grass. This is a joke about marijuana, a drug that it sounds as if Zen may have imbibed in prior to and possibly during the recording of this song. Marijuana is currently legalized in four states (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, in alphabetical order) and decriminalized in several others. Though it has long been prohibited for personal use, the hemp plant was once one of the crucial crops in American industry. Well, I don’t need to tell you. Like a great majority of Passion of the Weiss readers, you probably wrote a paper about this in high school. (I did, too.)
8. Rascal – “Elhae’s Joint”
This beat has been stuck in my head since I first heard it a few weeks ago. if I was a rapper I’d immediately rip this track off soundcloud and use the breaks in Rascal’s jazzy instrumentals to start beef with the Noisey Atlanta guy. Just an idea.
*Some of the main side effects of antihistamines include: Dry mouth, Drowsiness, Dizziness, Nausea and vomiting, Restlessness or moodiness, Trouble urinating or not being able to urinate, Blurred vision, Confusion.
