Record review: Das Racist “Relax”
In “Michael Jackson” when Heems growls “I’m fucking great at rapping!” it’s perfectly self-referential (he truly did just deliver a fucking great verse) and also one of the most optimistic and uplifting lines on a single in 2011. It makes me feel so good everytime I hear it.
The same mentality holds for “Happy Rappy.” It’s silly and sort of calling themselves out, but it is good to see people essentially saying “I’m happy! Fuck what other people are putting out into the world.”
References (self- or otherwise) are what define Das Racist’s rhyme style. Whereas Heems will reference political and cultural issues, and deal with his own identity, Kool AD will often just say the names of things. (“I’m DJ Khaled.” or the like.) And they gain hipster credibility with their name drops of indie bands (“that’s my bloody Ballentines.” or rhyming “Jeff Mangum” with “rap about handguns.”)
Compared to past mixtapes (WHICH WERE AWESOME!) Relax sees Das Racist focus their energies. There’s 14 tracks and they all sound like they are coming from one place. The production is consistent, not oscillating between small Fruity Loops and huge Diplo beats, but with solid beats keeping your interest throughout. The attitude shines through. That happy, jokey attitude complimenting their DIY attitude. These guys really do stand out from normal, mainstream hip hop.
If you say something serious - about race or poverty or culture - and in the same breath make a reference to Internet memes and smoking weed, one thing does not invalidate the other. I took a bunch of classes on postmodern theory in college, so the urge to dissect Relax as a high-brow/low-brow snapshot of 2011 America is definitely there. But I also recognize that not everything needs to be infinitely intellectualized. That some things are just things that exist in the world and can be enjoyed for what they are. There are aesthetic choices to be made and parts of the creators are invariably present. I guess “Relax” is the perfect title. Just listen and enjoy what is happening.
(this review is probably not a comprehensive view on Das Racist or Relax. I wrote it in one take while riding the subway into work, but I still agree with what I said. No regrets.)
