subject: Hoodie Allen Brings the "Pep Rally" to the Net [print this page] When was the last time you heard a decent rap mixtape? How about a good free rap mixtape?
Hoodie Allen, a hip-hop artist based here in New York, has taken the internetspecifically music blog database Hype Machineby storm. Originally a duo with Steve Witz on vocals and Obey City on beats, Hoodie Allen is now a solo project featuring Steve with musical help from producer RJF. Last week, his latest mix, Pep Rally, overtook Hype Machine, leading readers to a free stream and download of his new tracks.
Let's drop the formality: we all know it's hard for me to write about hip-hop. I'm not into the genre and don't know much about it, and I don't get the terminologywords like "dope" and "ill" are lost on me in descriptions. The closest I've gotten to a hip-hop review lies somewhere between Robyn's cute, vaguely "ghetto" swagger and M.I.A.'s world-influenced rap. My MP3 player is filled with female vocalists, dance tracks, 90s rock and some stuff by Amanda Blank and Uffie, who both rap but are too cute to be hardcore. So why is Hoodie Allen so catchy?
Maybe it's Hoodie's sampling of current songs that make his music more interesting. Instead of taking "hits from the 80s" (yep, that's a shout-out to Ma$eI did listen to rap in the 90s), Hoodie uses modern indie groups, some who haven't even really hit it big in the US yet. In some odd way, he is actually making hipster-friendly rap musicI'm sure they would probably appreciate the irony.
Another thing that helps is all of Hoodie's references to 90s TV shows and current pop culture that our generation can relate to. Anyone remember Amanda Bynes on Nickelodeon's All That in the "Ask Ashley" segment? Hoodie does. He also goes on to shout out at Chelsea Lately, Mad Men's January Jones, A.C. Slater and Wes Craven, just to name a few. Plus, any rapper that references Buffy the Vampire Slayer is definitely okay in my book.
Rather than a song-by-song analysis, let's take the album as a whole. First off, Hoodie definitely has the ability to find rhymes and references to appeal to just about anyone, from TV geeks to sports fans. Second, while his delivery is fairly monotone and predictable (then again, that's a trait in most rap songs), his rhymes are tight, and he definitely must have a swimmer-like lung capacity to rhyme through such long strings of words without having to take a break. At just 21 years old, the kid definitely knows hip-hop, even if he looks like any other young, white college boy.
Yes, Hoodie looks like your average white boy, but why should that stop him?
He's obviously no Eminemthat guy is too overly dramaticbut he fits well into the scene, keeping his rhymes fun and upbeat and his music fresh. Marina and the Diamonds' "I Am Not a Robot" on "You Are Not a Robot" and Death Cab for Cutie's "Transatlanticism" on "So Much Closer" blend so well with the beat that you almost forget they're samples. Meanwhile, if you don't know the originals, the mix also lends to discovering new music, like my discovery of Flight Facilities' "Crave You" thanks to Hoodie's "C.R.A.V.E."
Hip-hop is obviously not for everyone. Still, Hoodie Allen's tracks have a catchy element to them that's hard to pinpoint. Whether it's his young energy and love of the game or his nostalgic references mixed with modern sounds, Hoodie's got something great, even innovative, with Pep Rallyif he can catch my ear, then it must be fun, quality music. My advice: catch him now while the music is free so you can judge for yourself, because the boy definitely has potential to hit it big.
Pep Rally is out now for free at http://timeforthepeprally.com/, and Hoodie Allen will play The Studio at Webster Hall on October 10.
By: Drew KolarRead more music reviews at www.allmediany.com Hoodie Allen Brings the "Pep Rally" to the NetBy: Rose
