#dmvrap

[oddmojomusic]

#TBT Mass Appeal Video Shoot BTS 

https://youtu.be/oA-cxtQ2SZI

[biggavelli007]

Trapped In The Whop 4

Shot By: Thomas Jones & Darius Key

http://www.7015productions.com/trapped-in-the-whop-4

[underground-archives]

Track Spotlight: "Words2LiveBy" - El Cousteau ft. Earl Sweatshirt (2024)

“Words2LiveBy” ft. Earl Sweatshirt might have officially put Washington, D.C. rapper El Cousteau (also credited as the track's producer under the name “COCA COUSTEAU”) on the map. The track immediately gained notoriety among niche crowds due to a clip of Earl’s verse going (slightly) viral on X (formerly Twitter) and being reposted to Instagram.

For some background, Earl is one of the original alternative hip hop acts of the modern era; a part of the Odd Future collective/era, which was a movement in itself (that took place a few years before the time frame featured on Underground-Archives, but definitely has a place in the underground/alt hip hop conversation).

Earl’s feature on “Words2LiveBy” definitely caught people’s attention, because he does not typically rap on trap beats, favoring a more abstract, experimental approach. The virality of the clip exposed an ideological dichotomy many people have between “trap” - which is written off as unintelligent, lacking in depth, even “mumble rap” - and the more abstract, sonically experimental iterations of hip hop that Earl is known to create. Some listeners thought it was cool and cracked lighthearted jokes about Earl being influenced by DMV rap, while others saw the verse as a sort of "downgrade" from his typical material (because it's trap).

Additionally, there have been many comments (particularly on Instagram) accusing Earl of rapping “off beat” - which opens up a broader conversation on DMV rap and “pockets.” I like to affectionately call the DMV style of rapping in the beat's pockets (think the "and" in one-e-and-a-four-e-and-a-") as “the DMV pocket.”

Pretentious fan drama aside, the reception of this new sound for Earl was mostly positive. People praised the cleverness and authenticity of his bars, particularly the lines “Free Gaza, we on the corner like Israelites” (which still leaves room for critique as the rapper could be said to be trivializing the issue, but also, how many artists do you hear saying "Free Gaza" and see waving keffiyehs in their videos and at their shows? I see the case for both sides...) and “I’m not okay but I’m gon' be alright.”

Though the Earl feature may have overshadowed Cousteau’s verse on the song in terms of virality, there certainly seems to be more eyes on the up and coming DC-born rapper/producer now, who takes a very different approach to DMV-style rap than what we are used to seeing (local artists deeply involved in the trap lifestyle, who may be talented, but can’t quite break into the broader conversation, and can't seem to use the art to get out of the cycle). 

El Cousteau is definitely part of the more “artsy” scene, collaborating with artists like Earl and Niontay, and the last person we saw take an alternative approach to DMV rap was Rico Nasty in 2016-18. He is definitely going to be a person to watch, as we see him introducing alternative hip hop artists to these beats that draw from, but also build upon the traditional DMV trap style, while combining it with elements of other regions and styles to create something unique. 

DMV rap is having its own “come up” on TikTok apart from what El Cousteau is doing, but I believe that both phenomena - El Cousteau’s incorporation of DMV rap elements into “non-DMV,” alternative projects, as well as new, young artists evolving the sound of DMV rap through “cranking” unconventional samples and popularizing it to such an extent to “outsiders” via TikTok - are things to keep our eyes on, and a sign that DMV rap may very soon break into the mainstream, and what that means for the genre/culture.

[podzquad-network]

The Pariz Interview.

Join us on Vigilantes Radio as we sit down with the dynamic and unapologetically bold rapper, Pariz 🎤🔥. Hailing from Wakefield, VA, Pariz has taken the hip-hop world by storm with viral hits and an unyielding passion for music. We dive deep into his journey, from his breakout freestyle to YFN Lucci & PnB Rock’s "Everyday We Lit" to his latest single “Get Loose”. Discover the story behind his success, his creative process, and his relentless drive to make music that resonates. Don’t miss this electrifying episode! 🎶💥 https://music.apple.com/us/artist/pariz/189229404 https://open.spotify.com/album/0F1vB70qmW6MM8755nHbZa?si=tnu8B8XoRSm8BDXvwELcuA&nd=1&dlsi=8b23623a00904d60 https://music.apple.com/us/album/burning-in-pariz-2/1468370890 https://www.instagram.com/parizm0702 https://twitter.com/iamparizm https://www.facebook.com/ParizM0702/ https://www.snapchat.com/add/parizm

[uniquelyrawstyle]

[uniquelyrawstyle]

[polarvibez]

View this post on Instagram

Fly Like Egyptian Monks! Doing what I do out VA! Good Vibez! Footage by @jessicamazona! #dcshows #dcevents #dmvevents #dcshows #dmvhiphop #dmvrap #dchiphop #dcrap #hiphop #rap #trap #indie #undergroundhiphop #artist #rapper #producer #rocker #recordingartist #poet #afrofuturism #afrofuturist #vaporwave #blerd #naija #dmv #baltimore https://www.instagram.com/p/B3BdukeHLNG/?igshid=17y2k0klxcsw7

[polarvibez]

+R|_|$|<00/_ : \/€+$

@jessicamazona : “You guys posed for this so quickly..”

Me: “That’s what rappers do”

Got to chop it up with fellow Tru-Skool/Black Broadway Underground DC Hip-Hop Legend @therealardamus when he came through to support our brother @dj_rbi on the wheels of steel saturday night. Treat yourself and go dig through the brotha Ardamus’s extensive catalog. He been puttin’ in that work for a while now…

#hiphop #undergroundhiphop #dmvhiphop #dchiphop #dmvrap #dcrap #ustreetdc #blackbroadway #wickedbloom #djrbi #rapper #emcee #indie #artist #producer #afrofuturism #afrofuturist #naija #blerd #dmv #poet #rocker #publife #beer #peace #freshcut (at Wicked Bloom DC) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxqkf6wnCr0/?igshid=hdy4cy2tu6dr