DOWNLOAD: Kokayi - RoxTar
D.C. rapper/producer Kokayi has already been nominated for a Grammy, but for some reason his presence hasn't truly been felt; one listen to "RoxTar" will hopefully change that. The beat sports warped guitar lines that slimily shift in dimension throughout, wrapping around a steadily bouncing beat with hard, brittle snaps subbing in for a snare. Then there's Kokayi's rapping, steady yet nimble, jokey even when it sounds most threatening. "RoxTar" takes GZA's approach on his hip-hop standard "Labels": On that track, GZA weaved record company names into his battle raps. Here, Kokayi does the same trick, but uses all of his favorite rock bands. What's noteworthy here is how well rock bands fit into standard rap lines: Check how he uses the Psychedelic Furs, Misfits, and Panic! At The Disco in well-known rap trademarks. Kokayi's album, Robots & Dinosaurs, is out now on QN5.
