Recklous: “Blackout” – a relentlessly brusque rhyme style

Some rappers spend an eternity trying to get to the big show and when they finally make it, the finished product is so far away from the grit we love that it isn’t even worth it. Santa Cruz rapper Recklous still toils in the minor underground leagues which means he can keep his heart and drop the real him on wax. Recklous’ relentlessly brusque rhyme style and rugged gargling-with-bleach delivery is enough to ignite any set of bars, so when he tackles his latest project, the single, “Blackout”, produced by (Prod. Aq1notx), all hell breaks loose. If you’re looking for good, raw, uncut hip-hop this dude will deliver.

“Blackout” locks in on the things people consume themselves with. Partying, doing drugs and drinking keep you in a time warp haze that makes it impossible for progress and Recklous’ earnest examination puts this on full display without a soapbox but with the comprehension of someone that has been caught in that trap.

Recklous has not only remained remarkably consistent in his delivery, but has mastered Rap’s seldom-seen ability to grow and develop over time without compromising his artistry. Growth in confidence can be definitively heard between his previous release and today’s latest track, although retaining the relentless flow, worthwhile lyrical content, and healthy dose of banging rhythm that remains staple to Recklous’ music formula.

For this review, there is no need to beat around the bush with fancy intros and outros, so I’ll get directly to it. “Blackout” is one good f*cking track from this young up and coming rapper.Now most commercial rap tracks are somewhat the same.

Some talk over a beat, others use personal drops or let an instrumental ride but this is by far one of the most real and personal accounts of one’s life experiences as only Recklous can deliver. It’s hard not to get sucked in musically and emotionally as he grabs you with code-like schemes, flowing in perfect harmony and departing precise meaning as if structure is genetically ingrained in his body.

About 7 or 8 years ago, it looked like hip-hop was primed for a new golden age. The promise of the internet had given rise to a whole new underground of artists growing and creating strange things without the demands and wills of the radio. But alas, it was not meant to be.

After the first rappers got large contracts off their viral videos, the internet became another A&R talent pool for the major labels searching for the next big thing. Some rappers adapted, others tried and failed, and a lot were just left in the void without a place for them in the new system.

Recklous is one of those niche-destined artists, who wasn’t in the game at time, as he released his first professional track on 16^th February 2017, hence he has not gotten sucked in by the corporate machine 2.0 yet. This results in his tracks still being raw, without the rough and interesting aspects of the music being sanded off by some corporate wanker, just so it fits the box that Recklous never ever wanted to climb inside since he was fifteen years old.

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