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This week in local hip-hop, we have a bunch of new tracks from a fresh new face, Kid Plat, as well as some others we're already familiar with, including a food-heavy cut from Turner Jackson, a nostalgia-tinged track from the Roadside Profits, and a very grown-up collaboration featuring Haven, Surgon and Aires Jackson.
With "Food for Speech," Turner Jackson has teamed up with DealzMakesBeatz and DJ Dozen to create a metaphor-filled, food-centric track that would make Lupe Fiasco proud. Opening with lines about hot dogs, hamburgers, sauerkraut and other toppings, Jackson takes the food reference as far as it can possibly go. The thing he enjoys eating the most? Other rappers, of course [insert maniacal laughter here].
Kid Plat, on the other hand, makes no attempts to offer up metaphors, punchlines or, really, any semblance of rap knowledge on this joint. Sneakers are an integral part of hip-hop ("My Adidas," anyone?), but Plat just doesn't get the job done on "Sneaker Addict." Right around the 1:02 mark, the beat has a sort of spastic breakdown that sounds like it's trying to throw the MC off its back.
The Roadside Profits bring a completely different feel to the pack with "Savior," featuring Jane Doed. This joint is sentimental and nostalgic. With a beat that's progressive, the rap styles complement each other well. All about bridging the gap between "real hip-hop" and the different changes rap has gone through, this track finds Roadside Profits incorporating R&B elements to keep the track smoothed out.
The Qknox and Lenny Lenn-produced "Refined Rapper" features Aires Jackson, Haven and Surgon, and is chock-full of Nat King Cole swag. The guys get downright bluesy and elegant on this one. A little sexual, very playful and entirely grown, it's a nice change to what has become the rap norm. Also, it's Haven's verse that encompasses the song's meaning. Awesome.