All of the Above [BBRC]
From mesh tops to bubble goose, from the grill on your car to the grill in your mouth, from the BX to the farthest reaches of the globe - this has become rap music, man.
Growing up in Toronto, we saw a rapper find success as a folk guitarist - we saw a hometown rapper with an island cadence have his song turn into a platinum selling ringtone. Eventually, we even saw a teen actor, who a lot of local artists might've clowned on 10 years ago, become the fastest growing rap star since Lil Wayne.
Welcome to Hip Hop culture in 2011. Rappers are putting together inspiring rookie years in their thirties; singing your own hook is the thing now; and artists poppin in Canada, England and even South Africa are setting themselves up for strong careers. Back in the day they said rap would never die, but I'm not sure anyone saw this coming.
Alabama is not New York, the Bay is not LA, and Toronto is definitely not Houston. But it takes all kinds man, it takes all kinds. As little kids in 92', we had lines shaved in to the sides of our heads, and wore our clothing backwards, blaring "Jump" well after "Warm it up" dropped - those memories are kind of funny now - but then again, that denim vest with rhinestones "so-and-so" inspired you to wear to senior prom, probably will be worth a few chuckels in a couple of years too. But - hence our point - from mesh tops to bubble goose, from the grill on your car to the grill in your mouth, and from the BX to the farthest reaches - rap has always sorta been what you make it - bottom line, rap has become "All of the Above."
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Artist: Notes to Self
Song: All of the Above [BBRC]
Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) & Book (of Beatface)
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve
From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]"
Illustration by Elicser (elicser.com)
Design by COS & PK
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