The British-American rapper is producing unique music by drawing from past and contemporary sounds.
Modern rappers tend to come across in a way reminiscent of––I’m new to photoshop—overusing drum loops, autotune, and rhyme schemes that induce depressive scowls.
It’s rare to encounter music that engages multiple generations, and when it does, it’s usually veterans that are able to pull it off. Kendrick Lamar is one such contemporary rapper who has achieved this. However, there is another.
Who Is IDK?
British-American rapper IDK (born in London) has managed to transcend multiple sounds, sonically appealing to a sub-genre-busting audience. His purpose is multitype, skirting the edges of perceived eras and finding solace in whatever resonates with him.
The artist’s (real name name Jason Aaron Mills) most recent release, Bravado + Intimo, tends to a fluent mix of influences, scaling ideas into a potent charm that should impress even the most hardened of hip-hop purists.
What Does It Sound Like?
In an age where music is easily discarded, competing for listeners’ attention becomes yet another battleground in the marketing mix, with some artists adjusting their style to attract more fans. This appropriation signals the collapse of creativity in order to aspire to status rather than feel appreciated for thematic identity.
On this latest release, it feels as though Mills is building his own, not forcefully, but letting things unravel as they should. On Switch, he summons the essence of early 2000s production, blurring the lines between the new and the old to unite rap fans in his personal renaissance.
Featuring Conway the Machine, Joey Badass, among others, its platform provides the right balance for those looking to avoid excessive duets without compromising style.
Tracks including Supernova, featuring The Artist, explore a different side, showcasing the lyricist’s skill and ability to demonstrate a varied palate and openness to different sounds. This continues in See You Again, which once again incorporates diverse tempre and varying tempos alongside another feature with Bi.
Verdict
There’s a stylistic prose of the blues inherent and woven throughout this long play, where IDK paces himself in a thoughtful embrace of its subject matter.
Bravado + Intimo’s dedication to offering life support to an art form that is almost unrecognisable, is commendable.
The project’s aversion to pigeonholing itself is an outstanding feature of the album, chockfull of a polished audibility that hip-hop fans will welcome.
Surfing within pastures of trap, boom-bap, and jazz, it’s impossible to say no to it. There’s a commitment to the craft and a leniency that allows him to be a rapper, impressing both himself and us.
How To Listen and Where To Buy
Rough trade is currently selling Bravado + Intimo on both vinyl and CD for £32.99 and £19.99, respectively.
If your preference is to stream, it is available on platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon.
Stanisland Magazine 
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