Austin TX: Protextor's new album SHIFT
'This ain't no music for no real estate developer, this is the music for the realest state there ever was.'
These lines are from the first song of Protextor's album SHIFT, 'People in Your Neighborhood,' which sets the pace for this conscious record. It has several memorable lines, and guest performer The Poetic Butcher fits the tone of the track just right. P-tek is telling stories of working class people in 'The Help,' which brings into mind the book/film with the same title that revolves around 1960's racism. It's an interesting and thoughtful reminder of layers of social issues.
This record has a lot of production and features from Austin artists. Notably, a few songs are produced by HADES of the Black Market Pluto label. HADES and LROY, a guest rapper on another track, form the duo Suicide Notes (Black Market Pluto). The production throughout this record is top notch. P-tek knows a good hip-hop track - the sounds are full of rich samples, booming bass, scratching, and East Coast boom bap. You can hear lyrical and musical influences all over the map, from street hardcore and boom bap in the East Coast, to acts ranging from OutKast, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar.
Many lyrical themes throughout this album are liberal. Protextor is very open-minded and concerned about society - he takes aim against religious and controlling people who take advantage of other groups. These topics, along with some interesting interludes, make this an album for those open-minded about hip-hop influences and who like complex, analytical lyrics. When people say hip-hop is offensive, they're usually talking about mainstream rap, which is offensive because the lyrics lack any real depth as they focus on money, drugs, and women. P-tek's hip-hop is offensive because he actually talks about real issues. He calls out groups of people, discusses socially awkward issues, and has weird interludes including an Asian woman talking about sex.
"We came to rip this shit up and play Dig Dug."
SHIFT represents a culture's push to extend its limits & boundaries. And Protextor definitely does push the scope of hip-hop with this album. It's a solid project with some great singles and an unconventional approach. Welcome to Austin rap, home of the new Weird City Fest (which happens this year on 1/16/16, this Saturday at Spiderhouse Ballroom) - Austin's first hip-hop festival, which Protextor has had a huge part in organizing. SHIFT shows why P-tek is a leader of Austin hip-hop.
These songs will stick in your head, especially since they feature such great production. Must listen: 'People in Your Neighborhood,' 'The Help,' 'Third Coast Rising,' 'Heatstroke,' 'Austin.'
SHIFT will be a prize in February's blog drawing (2/8/16) for site subscribers, along with fellow Austin hip-hop act Suicide Notes' new record. Sign up to enter to win these records here. An interview with P-tek and HADES of Suicide Notes is in the works for a new podcast episode of Monikker's Rap Show.