The South is where the Hip-Hop’s focus is situated at now. After 2010, figures from Atlanta, Georgia, such as Mike WiLL Made-It , Lil Yachty, and the venerable Gucci Mane. The South cultivated the scene that Hip-Hop is demonstrating today. This scene includes the concentration on hard, punishing bass sounds filled to the brim with peddling drums and snares.
Hailing from the South is a rising native from Jacksonville, Texas. According to his biography, he was raised on government assistance under the wong of a strong-willed single mother. This fits perfectly into the initial essence of Trap music, being “trapped” in an environment that, at the time, can be seen insurmountable for its denizens to escape from.
Young and full of robust vigor, PD4de has a minimal amount of music under his catalog. He already has a full-lengthed project entitled “Anaesthesia” under his discography, as well as nearly 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. It seems that there is an audience receptive to his voice.
He recently released a single entitled “Don’t Say Much,” which features fellow George Park Rapper Kap G. Nearing three minutes and forty-five seconds long, the beat, as well as the verses from these two lyricists, explode into a frenzy. The instrumental itself is just as conventional as any modern Trap beat, but it wouldn’t be fair to say it doesn’t shed a lot of passion in its vibrancy.
The production includes a twangy bass that rings from left to right, supplemented by fiery snares and crenulated electric chords. Occasionally, the bass will be substituted for silence, allowing some of the more attentive lyrics to gain more of the light.
The first lyricist is Ph4de. When he riffs, he tends to rap with a breathless flow in a similar fashion many pop-star rappers do now. Although, he executes his flow with heaving passion. Line by line, he raps at a sped-fast pace, going from one punch line to the next metaphor. “Come catch a fade any day. Rappers minute-made. I’ve been on my grind since I was reusing paper plates,” is a clever line which I thought really demonstrated his ability to execute these types of phrases at such speed.
On the chorus, as well as serving the second verse is fellow Rapper Kap G. He takes his time and instead focuses on giving his flow more space. There is a breath taken in between each line, which emphasizes the punchlines themselves. Although, the lines aren’t so spectacular in terms of clever witticism or rhyming. Out of the two rappers, Kap G is much more relaxed and liberal. “I’m bringing home the bacon. Smokin’ this gas like a vape pen. Look at this ice I’m draped in.”
Contrasting with their tempos, both Ph4de and Kap G are essentially telling the same narrative. It’s young hubris adorned with punchline after punchline. It’s a formula rehearsed to death in modern Rap music, but it’s an essential formula. Anything that gives young people a confidence boost in their day is duty well-served.
Ph4de and Kap G are husky musicians ready to take on the world, and if we had more of that energy, who knows how far we all could reach?
