With a countless number of hype bands being carelessly tossed across the intricate blogosphere, it’s becoming increasingly hard for a listener to discover something original. This is especially true for the hip-hop scene, which is starting to bridge the gap between hipster likeability and gangster aesthetic.
Das Racist is one of those versatile groups that has been put on a pedestal by the indie-pretentious likes of Pitchfork Media and the shifting face of the rap underground, so there is a unique pressure put on Das Racist to be something really different that will shape the mediums of indie music as well as rap. Maybe they are in an unfair place and would fare better without all of the press, but unfortunately their newest mixtape, Sit Down, Man, puts them under the infinite list of hype bands who simply fall flat.
While certain aspects of their half-serious style allow them to be a breath of fresh air among the current and ridiculous Gucci-dominated scene, there still isn’t enough in this mixtape to really rave about. What is really disappointing is how apparent it is that the guest spots from legends like EL-P and Diplo are the deciding factor in making the good songs good, rather than the group themself.
The lyrical style of members Victor Vasquez and Himanshu Suri consists of an almost lazy flow that switches between intelligent and typical. They seem to be sort of spoofing hip-hop while simultaneously celebrating it, which at times pushes them into the categories they poke fun at. Crafting raps from the sillier lines of giants like Lil Wayne, there’s a sense of serious social commentary within their deceptively carefree tone, but it’s too subtle to have a tangible impact.
In “Town Business,” Das Racist interweaves between lyrical snippets of “A Milli” over a really impressive beat that does show genuine promise. Still, it seems very misplaced to give Das Racist credit for merely finding an exceptional producer who put together extraordinary samples that are really the only standout points of the tracks. While Sit Down, Manis certainly a well-structured mixtape, the best thing about the group is its good taste in producers, which is far from enough to make Das Racist anything special.
