Those were the words shouted by a photographer at Antwon's show at Santos Party House last February that I attended. At first I thought I would be able to hold conversation with her, based on her also noticing that Hot Sugar and Nasty Nigel were in the audience. But his name's Kool A.D. Not Kool Aid. He even says his name in countless Das Racist songs ("Kool A.D. / aka Victor Vasquez / second best rapper with glasses / after E-40").
That's why the solo mixtapes from Kool A.D. and Heems are so important. Whereas some of them are better than others (best ones so far are Heems' Nehru Jackets and Kool A.D.'s 51), they help carve out a personality for the two. They're no longer Das Racist. I wish they still were, but they're not. They're making their own music now.
Which is why the solo mixtapes are also so interesting. Heems has embraced his Indian heritage and the grit of New York rap, making for some politically charged (yet still ladened with Das Racist wit) songs. Kool A.D. is now dividing his time between New York and the Bay. On his great mixtape, 51, Kool A.D. worked almost entirely with rappers from the bay like Main Attrakionz. He's also working with producers from the Bay, like Amaze 88, Young L and Trackademics, making him rap over much more lush and inviting beats. His music's great to listen not just because he's a great MC, but because he has great production.
And that's why a mixtape like 19 could and should work. It boasts an impressive production roster with guys like Steel Tipped Dove, SKYWLKR, Pictureplane and Ad-Rock (yes, the same Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys). But all of 19 feels like a parody of based music.
Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but Kool A.D. is capable of so much more. First track "Eroika" is fun to listen to (and maybe even the best song off the tape) because at first it's funny to hear Kool A.D. go "bitch I'm Garfield". But soon it's song after song like that. The only difference may be pitched down vocals. There are some songs that are okay, but those don't make up for the amount of filler on the tape.
Luckily, Kool A.D. released 63 as well. Just by the opening song, "63 (Amaze 88 Intro)", you know that 63 will be more in the vein of 51. The majority of the songs are produced by the brilliant Amaze 88, but a handful of the tracks are also produced by Heems' in house producer, Mike Finito, making 63 sound like a mix between Nehru Jackets and 51 (one of my friends also described 63 as sounding "oceanic").
Besides from having some excellent production, 63 also has some great guests. "Rap Genius" and "Finito Posse Jawn" are some awesome posse cuts featuring guys like Lakutis, DVS, Mike Finito and Meyhem Lauren. Lakutis' verse on "Rap Genius" is hilarious ("ring ring / telephone / sorry it's the president / hold on, I gotta take this / hello, President Obama?"). It's also impressive to see how Kool A.D. hold his own against some of his guests. I was afraid he would get overshadowed by the Hellfyre Club rappers, Open Mike Eagle and Busdriver, but he holds up quite well against them. Ne$$ of Weekend Money sounds great over the lush "Lush" a song much different compared to his work in Weekend Money.
But this mixtape's the Kool A.D. show, not anybody else's. Who else would think to say something like "New Fidel-cash flow"? On "Exotische Kunst" there's a great line that goes, "look at my invention game / flawless / Edison, couldn't con this / Ellison couldn't see this". But the most surprising track on here is "Lush", where Kool A.D. gets the most personal I've ever heard him. At one point he goes "shouts to Das Racist / and all the fools who paid money / to see exactly how we laced it / you helped me pay rent / and eat food/ so I could say shit / for a living". This is what Kool A.D. wants to do. He wants to rap. So let's let him.
19
5/10
Recommended Tracks: Eroika, Vendedores (feat. Tray 57), NPR, Attitude (feat. Cult Days)
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63
8.5/10
Recommended Tracks: Moneyball, Froyo (feat. Detroit Cydi & Selfsays), Finito Posse Jawn (feat. Chaz Van Queen, DVS, Lakutis, Mike Finito & Davito), Get a Job, Rap Genius (feat. Lakutis, DVS, Dallas Penn & Meyhem Lauren), Question Jam (feat. Busdriver & Beans), Lush (feat. Ne$$), Bering Sea Gold, Exotische Kunst
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