Rap is not Pop

Apathy is a prominent hip-hop artist that has been in the game for two decades. Though he has been in the hip-hop world for a long time, he just can’t seem to get out of the “underground” persona. It generally works for him in his new album Handshakes with Snakes. He talks about various topics from his animosity towards rap politics to his cross-examination of fashion and business in the hip-hop industry.

His album is somewhat of what’s already been said by other artists on the new era of rap. However, his hardcore reputation and how he handles the production of his music brings his fan’s headphones his bumping lyrics. His view on hip-hop is mainly through a methodical standpoint. Apathy spreads out his viewpoints without it sounding like he’s trying to convince his listeners to think the same way he does.

The most quotable song on the album is “Rap is not Pop.” He gears this song more towards people who are not very knowledgeable on the hip-hop industry. His old school viewpoints on the new age music may sound typical for his seniority in the industry, but his lyrics in this song are beyond truthful, “ I ain’t just an old head stuck in my old ways…everybody recycles everybody else beats/Fifty versions of a song 30 times in a week.”

Another favorite line from “ Rap is not Pop” is “ I put a bullet in my radio put it out of his misery.” He really does not like what these new cats are talking about in their music and makes it clear that old school lyricists grew up on the words of hip-hop and not just the fantasy of the lifestyle.

Handshakes with Snakes may sound like another old rapper talking about the same ole thing, but it’s always about how the artist puts their words together to make it just a little different than the others. Apathy does that in this album and makes it known to the rookies that he is not going anywhere anytime soon.