new music: blakface and seanwyze get deep in “on the edge” #soundcheck

With a chemistry reminiscent of Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and Hi-Tek at their Black Star best, Blakface, SeanWyze, and Guilty Simpson’s “On The Edge” is the kind of stripped down classic that people used to call “conscious” back when Def Jux and Rawkus were still happening and before everyone agreed that was a stupid way to describe music. (See also: Intelligent Dance Music). The track hits on major issues from student debt to police violence to cultural appropriation over a minimalist beat. Also much respect for the line “this ain’t Nintendo / this ain’t a game, boy.”

By Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK contributor