Will Hagle runs your aunt’s Facebook
Swifty McVay learned how to rap by reading a Russell Simmons book. If you can’t remember who Swift is, he’s the Masta Killa of D12. That’s not an entirely fair comparison, but it’s close and relevant enough. Natia, whose only searchable interview claims he listened to “Wu Tang and Eminem mostly” growing up, hasn’t read Success Through Stillness. His video for “The Wrong Way” is still all smiles, proving that drinking Miller truly is the only route to happiness and longevity. Though Natia and his Renaissance Family should probably switch from Lite to High Life soon.
The Renaissance Family goes outside. They sip Steele Reserve and stick tongues out mid-kick flip. “The Wrong Way” is too happy to be an Odd Future song, yet the association makes sense. Natia finds joy in the same things that bring Earl anxiety.
Because I don’t like shit and am currently inside, I’m reading YouTube comments. Someone named Eira Heartzeil says Natia looks like Derrick Rose. I agree. The mustache and the color scheme are spot on; the only difference is that Natia is capable of showing emotion. He’s Johnny Damon in a Red Sox and a red Yankees hat, laughing at allegiance.
The video is new, but the song is an outlier from last year’s Newport Diaries EP. “The Wrong Way” is shiny sing-rap, but most of that project contains hungry bars truer to Natia’s two influences. Like most members of Odd Future, Natia hides real rap skills behind all the tomfoolery.
The video for “The Hungriest,” which chronicles Natia’s journey from LAX to JFK (apparently to purchase more Yankees hats), is evidence. There are slow zoom-ins on unaware airport sleepers and airline passengers as Natia raps around them from his Delta aisle seat.
Natia approaches everything with a DIY mentality that Earl followers will appreciate. Adult Swim executives could offer the Renaissance Family its own Loiter Squad solely based on videos like “How to Unclog a toilet w/ Natia” and this white guy’s freestyle:
Natia ends the video for “The Wrong Way” stone-faced, recognizably Rose-like. Maybe it’s an artistic statement about the overly cheerful nature of the song despite what could be perceived as dark lyrics. I don’t know. Most likely not. Just crack the Champagne of Beers and enjoy the fun while it lasts. This and Boogie’s “Oh My” will probably go down as two of the most underrated songs to come out of L.A. this year. Even though this song came out last year. I’m serious.
