Asking For Nothing

“Have you gotten so lazy that you’ve forgotten that every god’s life is a journey”

Ra

The Southwest is unfamiliar territory for most people in the United States. There is this feel like you are on the precipice of something, a luminal space of modernity and antiquity. The sun beats down on the people and as water is scarce and hides from the surface, the workers work without hesitation. A border separates one world from another but cultures flow in and out of this region with constant exchange. Artists here know the value of a true creative spirit and moreso than anything they have fought for their spotlight.

Up Late

Tae Zu is an artist with an ambitious project, a four part series that is titled “Asking For Nothing”. The first part of the series is named “Up Late”, and we were honored to have an early listen. The album is reviewed below.

The album starts out with a track titled “If You Know” with what some might say an unorthodox stule considering contrmporary hip hop, the first track has a smooth vibe and funky southern sound that isn’t typical of this region. The lyrics and bass lines are solid and it makes for a good introduction.  

The second track gets a little more grimy, with east coast influential undertones, this departs from the southern sound from the first track but is marked by the indicator of a Southwest project, bilingual lyrics. The short Spanish lyrical addition connects well and identifies the artist as a native to the region. This second track titled “Like I do” highlights a lot of wordplay and experimentation with sound and tonal inflection. The background synth/strings are a highlight to the lyrical aggression, both hit with a quality syncopation, it’s funky but definitely a vibe.

The third track pushes the project into a reminiscent vibe of early 2000’s underground. One could view this is a solid and intentional craft decision or could possibly be viewed as one dimensional, that’s a subjective consideration left up to the listeners. If it’s a return of golden era qualities that one seeks this project delivers, if one would want a pop influenced project look elsewhere, this artist is not compromising and is genuinely himself. 

With the fourth track there are times the Midwest hints at influencing this project as well, but the east and south are most prominent here. The Southwest doesn’t seem to have an easy to identify trademark quality that spans the regional variance quite yet. However, this sound is a quality that is not easy to find. 

The last part of the project gives way to the forgotten art of the diss track. There is definitely a solid jab at someone in the same scene as Tae Zu going on here and it begs the question as to who it is, the diss rings a little less effective without a name but is an interesting item to consider.

Tae Zu has evolved since his earliest projects and it was a welcome and refreshing sound to hear.

Overall rating

3.75 out of 5