There’s something reassuring about a hip-hop song that’s certain of itself. Not one that’s slavishly attempting to ape a TikTok trend, nor one that spends several hours trying to squeeze every possible nuance out of some hellish production-magic dance, nor one with a rapper walking around trying to convince you he’s the next coming of an existing artist. “Pay Attention“, from Boise, Idaho’s Axiom Tha Wyze featuring underground West Coast legend Planet Asia sticks pretty firmly to the traditional old-school formula.
This beat is all dust, soul and punchy drums in a way that reminds you to miss J Dilla. It’s got that vintage-ness, but I don’t feel like it’s just regurgitating nostalgia: a twinge of Joey Bada$$ in the flow that allows the instrumentals to sit under the verses, a smidge of Roc Marciano in the mood’s minimal, gritty quality. It’s not glossy like a radio hit, but head-phone-appropriate for late nights when you don’t want your eyes to wander away from the words.
Axiom is also at home on a sound like this. With the single-minded focus of an independent artist and the power of someone who produces his own vocals, he’s well adept at putting together wordplay and multisyllabic rhymes that are dense without ever losing sight of his message in a way that reminds me of very early Lupe Fiasco.
Finally, there’s Planet Asia. The Fresno veteran requires no introduction, and there’s no need for him to prove that he’s fit for the occasion. His laid-back yet aggressive delivery adds a fresh flavour to the track, complementing rather than substituting for Axiom’s style. Having previously teamed up with Popa Wu on “Knowledge My Wisdom”, the two clearly know each other’s game, and the chemistry feels genuine.
What works so well about “Pay Attention” is that it doesn’t feel like it needs to demand attention. It’s simply two talented MCs trading verses over a track that gives their words room to breathe.
Overall, Axiom Tha Wyze and Planet Asia’s “Pay Attention” is a great underground team-up, and one that’s definitely worth the hunt. If Joey Bada$$’s boom-bap rhythms and Roc Marciano’s minimal styling sound appealing to you, then certainly keep an eye out for Axiom Tha Wyze and Planet Asia. “Pay Attention” doesn’t offer anything we haven’t heard before, but I think it’ll do just fine as a showcase of why that’s perfectly okay.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for various publications around the world, the former lead writer of review blogspace Atop The Treehouse and content creator for Manila Bulletin.
