When "Wreck," a new song from Mania Music's Kane Mayfield, arrived at the end of the year, it felt a bit like a step backward. Kane's stellar solo tracks on
Welcome to the Audience
("Poor Georgie," "Welcome to the Audience," "Reagonomics") found the rapper trying out an empathetic storytelling style that was as alive as his previous work, but oddly moving too. In contrast, "Wreck," with lots of hilarious shit-talk, big thumping drums, and one of those throwback, whole-buncha-guys-shouting hooks, seemed a little too on-the-nose 1990s rap. A few weeks, and 100 or so listens later, it's more like—dude, that's the point! Kane's energy, wit, and weirdness are on par with his influences (Busta Rhymes' wildness, the booming voice of Chuck D, De La Soul's tripped-out contrarianism), and by the time verse three arrives, he's made this humble, golden era homage his own. Mania's minimalist beat (ominous bass, RZA-like drums, and an organ that could've come from the
Carnival of Souls
score) is something to obsess over too. This is hardheaded retro-rap for sure, but done really, really well. You can grab "Wreck" with the instrumental (and a radio edit and acapella) over at
.
