If You Like: Taylor Bennett, tobi lou, KYLE
The genre of today’s hip hop is very fluid in the terms of artistic direction. Back in the day, Hip hop was mostly centered on the basics of heavy bass and 808s. It was a genre that didn’t take much to the idea of inclusion and pursuit of expression. Fast forward to the next wave of rappers and talent on the rise, we are on the cusp of a musical boom. Smacked right in the middle of the new incoming talent is Bradbrooks.
New York-based rapper Bradley Brooks can do it all. Photographer, music director, designer, brand founder, BradBrooks draws comparisons to how Tyler the Creator built his brand. Bradley represents a new form of rappers pushing the envelope in and outside the studio. Upon first listen, Bradley sparks moments of 90s trippy colorful wordplay in his style. Everything about his image, down to his very popular magazine PROH, projects wellness and positivity, BradBrooks music touches on notes of love, happiness, and everyday life. It’s a brand of rap that has long laid buried underneath all the mainstream success of rap. It’s music that doesn’t take itself too seriously and allows for the artist to express freely.
On his 2019 debut album, Birthday Boy, listeners can fully grasp what BradBrooks is all about. The project is filled with references to various cartoons and missed voicemails from Uncle Cousin Garry that really ties it all up. The tracks are easygoing and touch on the feeling of growing up while holding onto that child-like wonder. The lo-fi beats and production make for a sweet backdrop with Bradley’s voice.
BradBrooks recently released his long-awaited EP, Water Boy: Blue, earlier this year. The four-track project picks up right where his album left off. Using more refined lo-fi vocals, BradBrooks continues on his path to stardom. Despite gaining traction in the rap game, the rapper manages to stay true to his roots. Usually, when an artist builds up such a success, the money and fame tend to cloud judgments. BradBrooks is a special artist in his own right, carving a path in sunshine gold.
