A lot of genuine music enthusiasts seem to have the consensus that the 80s and the 90s marked a very special time in rap and hip-hop altogether. I don’t know if the reason for this phenomenon is simply attributed to gatekeepers in the industry, as some would put it, or because media was consumed and created with a completely different intent back then, personally. I infer that it is a mixture of both reasons. Whatever the influencing factors may be, rap and hip-hop music from that era seem to resonate with people from a diverse range of origins as well as generational brackets.
You wouldn’t be surprised to head out in this day and age and see someone my age wearing a t-shirt that solidifies the existence of a rapper in the past. Some of the topics these rappers wrote about were extremely hard-hitting and earnest. Some of the topics were simply for the sake of having fun and exploring what it means to enjoy oneself without too much hedonism or unsavoury behaviour mixed it. In today’s state space of rap and hip-hop, it is unfortunately common to see themes of crime and hedonism blatantly littered throughout the soundscape and lyricism portrayed by current artists. However, today we shall chance upon an artist who does not fit that devastating stereotype by providing a breath of fresh air, ironically, by taking us back to the past.
Rappin’ Zack is an emcee and a rapper who hails from Tacoma, Washington. As you will probably infer from his discography, he is a self-professed hip-hop head since the mid-1980s. He has a wide range of musical influences, from Run-DMC to Henry Collins. He is also a unique individual, hoping that his vast influences are reflected in his work and help broaden the state space of the average music consumer. As I’ve waxed lyrical about multiple times, artists who venture between genres and are pretty versatile tend to produce quality music as they do not limit themselves to perception or a tiny box. They have the intellectual and artistic freedom to expand upon what encompasses ‘art’, in a musical context. To no surprise, Rappin’ Zack has also been a singer for a heavy metal band called ‘Utterance’, and now fronts the duo called ‘Eye 5 Senses’ traversing the lines between spoken word and free jazz. His artistry intends to bring zany elements into an otherwise lush soundscape, intending to uplift and spread positivity all while being witty.
Let’s take a step into the world of his artistry, with his latest single titled ‘AKA The Golden Child’.
The track begins with a sophisticated, yet zany instrumental that bears a lot of jazz influence. It reminds me of some tracks from A Tribe Called Quest as well as the song ‘Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)’ by Digable Planets. I honestly spent my formative years listening to these tracks, however, my formative years were not in the 90s or the 80s- so a new track boasting such a distinct style of instrumentation in rap makes me feel as if I can experience the zeitgeist of hip hop from the past without losing any elements of it. It oozes sass, jazz, and sophistication all in one.
The beat is extremely sneaky, in a good way, possibly through the use of suspense-like jazz percussion. The horns sampled in this track have such a great and full acoustic flair to it, its hard to ignore how it truly gives the track an edge as Rappin’ Zack eloquently glides through his verses. The white noise also give the song a neo-20s feel, which really adds to the ‘new-vintage’ feel the track inherently gives off with the vocal samples. Moreover, the bass in this song wraps the track up perfectly, giving the song more lows and funkiness.
In terms of the vocals, flow, and delivery, Rappin’ Zack reminds me of Shock G. It is apparent how the 80s emcee-style of rap has influenced his style, and I welcome it. It is clear, and direct, but also gives room for fun. In fact, One of the lyrics in the song is extremely on-brand for him: ‘quit acting like happiness is corny, and go for the gusto’. I’m amazed at the lyrical content of the song, it is immensely radiant and quite rare to hear in these times. The zest for life and positivity also truly reminds me of some of the Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff. This song makes me want to rethink being broody and fatalistic and take a cue from the carefreeness of the past.
Overall, this track was extremely refreshing to chance upon. If you’ve explored the history of hip-hop and rap you’ll immediately catch the influences and the vibe that Rappin’ Zack gives off no matter how old or young you are. He is quite an infectious artist, and even though I’m typically suspicious of revivalist acts that aim to revitalise an old music movement, I think this is quite tastefully done and the production level is competent enough to make me feel like this song matches the quality of songs from the ‘golden age of hip-hop’. Even if you have zero context to what I’m talking about, I think this song is pretty undeniable- jazz influences coupled with feel-good lyrics are a universal moniker to most.
Score/Excellent: ‘AKA the Golden Child’ is a time capsule masquerading as a song, oozing with the lush jazz instrumentals that used to characterize rap music, combined with the zany style of rapping from emcees of the 80s. It is a wholesome song that does not lack edge and an all-rounded vibe.
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