When RXKNephew enters the sales space, all legal guidelines are deserted.
The Rochester rapper is infamous for his songs full of wacky non-sequiturs, stray targets, and memeable quotables that flood social media upon each launch. Nothing is sacred on the subject of Neph’s content material; ex-girlfriends, former plugs, and previous dope fiends that pop out and in of Neph’s unconscious. The attract of RXKNephew comes together with his punch-in type unpredictability and his lack of take care of consequence, leading to music that’s exhilarating and refreshing.
On Nephew’s new undertaking, LIFE AFTER NEPH, he groups up with the legendary Harry Fraud to ship an 11-track mafioso odyssey. Fraud is a longtime Coke Boys collaborator, and Nephew considers Max B his prime affect, which ought to make this staff up a match made in heaven. Nephew is not any stranger to unusual bedfellow collaborations, making it recognized he’s a rapper who operates like a mercenary–wherever the cash is, comes Neph’s bars. LIFE AFTER NEPH feels totally different than Neph’s prior artistic engagements; there’s a pure chemistry between Neph and Fraud, although Fraud’s compositions can often really feel proscribing for a free cannon like Neph. Harry Fraud’s manufacturing is cinematic and shiny with type, making Neph’s raps really feel like part of the Godfather II soundtrack. Nephew is like rap’s chameleon, he can rap on any given beat, from boom-bap (The ONEderful Neph), to classic ATL entice (Licensed Alcoholic).
LIFE AFTER NEPH showcases probably the most targeted Neph has been since his “debut” album Until Im Useless. The opener “Pebble Seashore,” sees Neph doing a victory lap over the spoils of his success. He recollects again to his auntie having onerous days and fast-forwarding to placing Gucci frames on his face. “Authority Determine” is led by piano synths and kicking snares, as Nephew laments his life-style with a shine of luxurious, rapping with the slyness of a profitable D-Boy. Whereas Nephew sounds distinctive, the observe appears like a minimize off the Valee/Fraud file dropped a few months prior.
By way of synergy, Nephew and Rx Papi are all the time on the identical web page.”RX INSTRUCTIONS” is the most effective show of Neph’s artistry; sufficient destructive area for his raps to increase by means of his character. Harry Fraud’s manufacturing is usually a double-edged sword for an artist like Neph, forcing him to adapt to a construction that feels tame stylistically. However on “RX INSTRUCTIONS,” the looping pattern permits Neph’s supply to be extra zany off the wall, with Papi sharing his vitality like a handed blunt.
Harry Fraud does a stable job of accommodating the various kinds Nephew brings to the desk. On “Dub 4 U” he faucets into Slitherman’s world of disco and drug dealing, with quirky synths and funky basslines. Nephew positions himself because the neighborhood plug, serving packs like its contemporary Thanksgiving plates. “All Gone,” encompasses a verse from Z Cash, which feels meant for Valee slightly than Nephew, however Nephew matches the cadence, barely resembling French Montana within the supply. On “The Roundtable,” Neph’s distributor for his Ooze weed pressure, TedBudz drops a verse and it’s surprisingly stable. Nephew scales again his antics all through LIFE AFTER NEPH, choosing coolness over erratic carnage in his verses. That calmness is notable in his “Roundtable” verse as he highlights his woman taking him bowling for the primary time with a demeanor harking back to Pimp C.
The problem with LIFE AFTER NEPH lies with how insular Harry Fraud’s manufacturing comes throughout. Whereas it’s true he brings artists into his world of mafia raps and aesthetics, the beats fail to increase sufficient to permit the artist’s personalities to discover a place in such a hard and fast setting. In consequence, Nephew sounds suppressed on Fraud’s compositions, practically pressured right into a template permitting for only a few moments of innovation.
One of many few moments Fraud breaks out of his templates is with “Prime Chef Neph,” a left-field bonkers pattern that leaves every thing to Nephew’s creativeness. It’s enjoyable, enticing, and refreshing for Harry Fraud’s sonic palette. It’s a realization that it’s okay to interrupt the mould and take a look at one thing vastly totally different.
