Who would have thought that someone could be inspired by Boyz II Men and Rage Against The Machine simultaneously? But first-generation African American Asante Phenix, who was born in Hartford, Connecticut and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, has been able to fuse the sounds of childhood into something quite fresh and edgy. Nowadays, you’ll also hear bits of Eminem, Lauryn Hill, and Drake in his songwriting.
His newest track “DMX” is an example of this culmination of musical influences, but also an example that he’s able to write lyrics that doesn’t just depict himself as a stereotypical hip-hop artist.
He directs all of his emotional and mental unrest in lyrics that circumvents the racial discrimination -- not models and bottles. He wraps his lyrics around warm percussion and synths that shine in and out throughout the track.
Don’t miss the interlude preceding the end of the track, it’s a pretty heavy message he spits out.
SIMILAR SONGS
