We listened extensively through the rap re-releases. Here are our recommendations.
Several strong releases came out on Friday May 19th. Despite the good weather, we don’t just fill our list with cheerful summer tracks, because it’s the rich works that convinced us this week. We recommend the releases of Gianni Suave, Fatoni, Yassin and KAYTRAMINÉ.
Gianni Suave – “YAPA”
With “YAPA” Gianni Suave brings out his first solo release in over a year. German rap is just talk, or “Yapa Yapa”, the Frankfurter complains on the track. “What you say and what you do feels like a multiverse,” raps Suave in the verse. Since the beginning of his career, his trademark has been the mixture of intricate rhyme schemes, intelligent lyrics and simple but effective flows. He can also bring this to bear on “YAPA” to the full.
The way the rapper delivers his lines and the aesthetics of the music video tie the single into the context of Suave’s overall work: fed up with the music industry, not keen on empty phrases that aren’t followed by action. He still does his own thing. And that very well. “YAPA” including a foreword by OG Keemo and music video can be seen on YouTube.
Fatoni – WONDERFUL WORLD
Fatoni from Munich reported back on Friday with his new record WUNDERBARE WELT. Thematically varied as usual, he jumps back and forth between (self-)ironic songs and sensitive tracks. The structure sometimes falls by the wayside, says MUSIKEXPRESS author Benedikt Kendler in his review. The highlights of the 45-minute running time are certainly the thoughtful numbers – such as “King of Doubters”, “Thank you for leaving me” with Danger Dan, or “Would that be bad” with Max Herre and MOLA.
Anton Schneider, as the rapper is called, admits to past mistakes and uses them in his music. “I still thought we could do it. Didn’t see me making a fool of myself. Thank you for leaving me,” he says about a broken relationship. He never had the courage to end it, although both parties were always aware that love had burned out.
Yassin – FOREVER
FOREVER is Yassin’s second solo record after YPSILON (2019). The Darmstadt native is best known for his collaborations with Audio88, which practice aggressive and cynical social criticism. On his own projects Yassin is more personal, as far as the sound is concerned he is more moderate. FOR IMMER convinces above all with Yassin’s impressive poetry, which he is not showing for the first time, but has never reached such a high level before.
“I’m just myself when I’m on fire and I think longer than you think. I’m on fire until there’s nothing left in me that burns,” says the hook to the Döll feature “Burning”. He oscillates between depression and anger on the songs. The result is an atmospheric complete work with which Yassin draws his listeners into his world – and doesn’t let go until the end.
KAYTRAMINÉ – KAYTRAMINÉ
KAYTRAMINÉ, the newest duo in the hip-hop world consisting of KAYTRANADA and Aminé, deliver the soundtrack of summer 2023 with their self-titled record. KAYTRAMINÉ’s organic instrumentals, for which he mixes hip-hop with house music, and Aminé’s smooth vocal performances complement each other perfectly and provide beach vibes.
Notable feature guests like Freddie Gibbs, Pharrell Williams, Big Sean and Snoop Dogg will also do their part to ensure that KAYTRAMINÉ finds its place on the “Summer 2023” playlists.