"Let's not make gay NYC rap a 'thing,'" said Le1f in an article about New York City's rising gay rap scene. See, in rap music, or any kind of music these days, everyone has their own image, personality, traits, etc. But unfortunately, a rapper's image can become bigger than his/her music. RiFF RaFF is an amazing rapper, but on YouTube videos, people talk more about how crazy he acts, how James Franco's character in Spring Breakers is based off of him, or what he's wearing. Guys like Le1f and Cakes Da Killa (along with rappers like Mykki Blanco and Zebra Katz) could be potential victims for a fate like this.
But luckily, they don't let their image define them. They let their music do that.
Le1f's excellent Dark York was released last year, mostly produced by him, and a couple amazing yet unknown producers. On Dark York Le1f had murky, dark dance beats which he rapped under, making it hard to discern his lyrics at times. But on Fly Zone, Le1f keeps the same type of beats (none of which are produced by him) but puts his voice at the forefront, letting the listener focus on his lyrics as well as the beats. Through the majority of the album, Le1f reminds us of how fly he is, counts money until he's sleepy and makes some references to his sexuality, but never bashes us over the head with it.
That's why Cakes Da Killa and Le1f succeed at doing what they do. They're gay and black, but they don't let that dominate their music. They're just as fly as anyone else.
What's interesting about Le1f's Fly Zone, is the overall sound of it. It sounds like some spaced out cloud rap infused with some dance beats coming from a different dimension with a swagged out MC narrating this whole thing. Fly Zone is pretty one note, with Le1f rapping about his lifestyle on each track. But the way he presents it is so interesting, that you feel like this is the first time you've heard a rapper rap about his/her life. The hook of album highlight "Coins" goes "Me and money match, where it’s ash, get my coins / At school I used to trap, now I rap, I’m getting my coins / Just chillin with my camp, tryina stack / I’m getting my coins, getting my coins / Getting my coins / Every night and day I be getting my coins".
The hook of "Coins" makes it seem like another boast rap, but Le1f's flow and voice change-up make it something really worth hearing.
Fly Zone, also has some solid features on it. Kitty Pryde does her usual cute white girl shtick on "Pocahontas", Safe's voice is looped through the song "Autopilot" but most surprisingly, Haleek Maul (?!), who's the last person I'd expect to collaborate with Le1f, shows up to spit an amazing verse on "The Whip".
In an interview Cakes Da Killa cited Le1f as his "foremother" (along with Antonio Blair). Yet, Cakes' music is much more different than Le1f's. Whereas Le1f's voice blends more into the music, Cakes Da Killa dominates the tracks with intensity. Cakes Da Killa is a bit more open (and explicit) with his sexuality than Le1f is, making it very interesting to listen to the two of them. Yet, Cakes doesn't get overly political with his sexual orientation. He's gay, but he has swag like anybody else.
Like Le1f's Fly Zone, The Eulogy offers some great production. One of the best songs, "Keep It Coochie" finds Cakes rapping over Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train" popularized by the Woody Allen film Radio Days. "Currency" has an ominous, pulsating beat.
The song "Goodie Goodies" perfectly sums up Cakes Da Killa's personality with the line "and I never give a fuck / so I do what I want". Album closer and possibly best song from the album, "The Eulogy" has the same affect of "Goodie Goodies". It let's us see Cakes' mantra. He has boots made of pheasant, gets into fights with lesbians and is not afraid to fight and leave you headless.
On the song "Airbending" from Le1f's Fly Zone there's a line that goes "I am / whatever you say I am / stop worrying about how gay I am / or how gay I'm not". This one line sees Le1f breaking the image of a homosexual rapper. It doesn't matter how gay you are when it comes to your music, it depends on the music it self.
Le1f - Fly Zone
8/10
Recommended Tracks: Airbending, The Whip (feat. Haleek Maul), Coins, Air Max (feat. Rahel)
Cakes Da Killa - The Eulogy
9/10
Recommended Tracks: Get Right (Get Wet), Keep It Coochie, Goodie Goodies, Currency, The Eulogy
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