2021 was an exceptionally big year for StreetSmartz101. This crew dropped three applause-worthy singles, each of which raised the bar for his artistry and implied that bigger and bolder things were still to come. Now that 2022 has arrived, it’s obvious that he isn’t planning on slowing their roll anytime soon – with the arrival of their new single “Money Talk,” establishing once again that his experimentation will never be limited to elaborate lyricism alone. “Money Talk” is built on brawny instrumentation, and I would personally call it his most daring take on a classic hip-hop formula to date.
In this master mix, there’s literally nothing in front of StreetSmartz101 – the bassline, the beats, everything is situated behind the lead vocal, giving him all the space in the world to really show off his relentless rhymes.
Watch the video for “Money Talk” below
They don’t waste a second of time giving us as hard a flex as possible, but it’s supported by a poetic substance that doesn’t sound recycled from another source in the industry. This is a personality-driven piece that challenges us to connect with the artist presenting it, and instead of being totally verse-centric, it’s full-bodied in the tradition of a genuine pop single.
StreetSmartz101 was made for today’s underground hip-hop culture, and they are rapping the indie flag brilliantly in “Money Talk.” That said, these beats are going to be hard to keep under wraps in 2022, and with the identity they made for themselves so clearly on display in this performance, it wouldn’t be hard to envision them making the transition to the mainstream a lot sooner than later. I’m impressed with what they got under his belt thus far and provided he doesn’t stop experimenting with the limits of their creative depth, I think we’re going to keep seeing critically acclaimed videos like the one for “Money Talk” on the regular.
