SIG.CARLITO Will Steal Your Girl on "PRADABAE"

Hip-hop has ascended to the peak of cultural importance due to its malleability. What an artist can do is almost completely boundless; at this point, a new subgenre seems to emerge every week, born from an artist who’s mixed together a new combination of the wide array of already existing styles within the genre. SoIcyGoth member Sig.Carlito is among the ranks of the young, hungry emerging class of rappers that aren’t afraid to push rap music past its conventional boundaries. He’s rapped over jarring synths (“Theme Song”) and done Mariah Carey interpolations (“Obsessed” and, of course, “Mariah”). His latest effort, “Pradabae”, is another experiment, and his most successful yet.

“Pradabae”’s beat was done by Cash Cobain, and it’s a doozy: a mix of plugg percs and drill patterns, revolving around a sped-up sample of Bryson Tiller’s iconic “Don’t”. It’s one of the most unique pieces of production you’ll hear all year - the sample gives the song a laid-back feel, counteracting the fast-paced, bouncy drums. Carlito finds the instrumental pocket with ease, and his rapping is equal parts punchy and melodic.

The video finds Carlito (who’s cut his trademark long, dyed-blonde hair) and Chxpo, another Solcygoth-affilated artist, chilling around New York with flying cars and broken hearts, through the lens of a vintage camera courtesy of directors Orazio and Tiny Tapes. Though it’s just over a minute long, “Pradabae” is able to ingrain itself into your head quickly, and leaves without overstaying its welcome. It won’t be easy to stop humming this one for a while.