When I first heard there was a Korean hip-hop group going by the name LOS LOKOS, using Mexican imagery, I was hesitant. Of course, this was before I realized a member of the group is, in fact, from Mexico. The knowledge that an integral part of their existence is their producer and beatmaker, PhreDdy M., softens the side-eye. It also helps that PhreDdy M. makes use of musical elements from his culture to add some genuine dimension. Elements not often seen in mainstream Korean hip hop.
Fast forward about eight months later, PhreDdy collaborates with Korean rapper Mckdaddy. The single makes its way to my inbox. I open the file, and… I don’t quite know what I expected when I pressed play. But I assure you it wasn’t this.
“WILD” is a song plucked straight from the 1990s. A song sculpted from Chicago’s inner city. Its saxophone foundation pays clear homage to the likes of Queen Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y.” (Which in itself sampled The Crusaders classic “A Message from the Inner City.”) It has the same eeriness of a song like Quincy Jones’s classic “Summer in the City.” Oppressive heat bouncing between monolithic buildings made of metal and glass. Seeping into the concrete of the sidewalk. Clothes sticking to the skin, adding another layer of weight to the backs of people stuffed into an overcrowded neighborhood.
Of course, these are just the images I get from PhreDdy M.’s saxophone sample. The rest of the track still carries a heavy ’90s influence. That being said, there’s a bombardment of sound. From the saxophone, to the wind effects, to the roar of a lion, to what sounds like a James Brown squall, it’s a cacophony. All these added effects almost cover up the typical trap stutter beat that much of today’s current Korean hip hop relies on. It nearly drowns out the actual vocal. But Mckdaddy does have an aggression to his delivery that manages to coincide with PhreDdy M.’s zealous production.
“WILD” is a decent track. Certainly makes use of heavy nostalgia to appeal to someone like me who grew up in hip hop’s “Golden Era.” Broken down to its barest elements, it’s nothing different than what’s currently trending. I can certainly appreciate how PhreDdy M. makes use of sampled brass and Mckdaddy’s bite. Once the nuance fades and the nostalgic excitement settles, however, we’re left with a song that relies on too many competing elements. Sax. Growls. Yelps. Wind. Heavy bass. Trap beat. Aggressive rap delivery. It’s a wall of sound that seesaws between anthemic banger and overstimulating noise. It just depends on the listener’s mood which one it is.
“WILD” is being released tomorrow, June 19 (Friday).
Preview:
Edited by Lena
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