North Carolina-based duo Dos Hobos consists of Spin 4th (of Yaggfu Front fame) and Esau the Anti Emcee. The duo have been in the North Carolina underground hip-hop scene for a minute and together they bring a refreshing adult-oriented take on boombap. Their latest project #AdultContemporaryBoomBap is a 21-track body of work that blends insightful social commentary, and engaging raps over soulful hard-hitting boombap backdrops.

Stressed and depressed, I ain’t got no sick days/My credit score decline every day and its hard to have good credit on minimum wage

The first track “Wire Ties” explores the current inflation rate and its effects on blue-collar workers who still can’t level up due to the economic ceiling imposed on them by the powers that be. It is a bleak situation but the rappers approach it with a bit of humour and wit. This is followed by the jazzy sounds of “The Nice Guys” comprising lush chords, and bright xylophone arrangements with a bass-driven drum groove underpinned by reflective lyrics that dwell on the duo’s distinct characteristics and what they bring to the game of rap. Next is the aptly titled “Dos Hobos Theme” which complements the previous track with additional details about their history and current disposition. Once again, the duo give the audience playful and somewhat self-deprecated rhymes that dig deep into their everyday lives reminding us that fame and fortune are not mutually exclusive.

 

The production for the most part has nostalgic elements and a bit of experimentation while being anchored to the boombap theme. We get a bit so social interaction insights on “Sellout” which dwells on the concept of success and integrity with lines like “I move into a neighbourhood of all white racists/Walk my labrador/doodle, wave and smile in their faces/Fantasies in the streets been greatly overstated, no debate..  while “Pete Keys” is a heartfelt and introspective soul-searching tale that uses keys as a motif. “Between the Lines” and “Breathe Easy” explore the obvious without being stated while the latter is a cinematic tale of an overzealous police officer and how things could go wrong in a split second. In “I Struggle”, the duo talk about depression and the blues. Over the soulful soundscape, we get a glimpse into Esau’s mind as he raps “If it bubbles up I feel like I’m gonna drown/I should be happy as I look in my mirror/My reflection says I am on the exterior/The blues are real life and they don’t discriminate and once inside your mind, they can start to decimate/they happiness is gone, they took it all away ” with a laidback tone. Not many features appear on the project but the following tracks “America” and “Life’s Great” recruit vocalists Lisa Little Fox and rapper  Jay Grey AKA Legal Alien respectively. The former talks about the imbalanced racial prejudiced system in the US of A while the latter reminds us of the hard work that comes with success and it’s also a display of rhyme skills from two dope rappers. ‘Chums’ is a relatable tune that shows the different types of friends we have and how sometimes their conflicting nature is the unifying factor.

 

“Circus & Bread” give audiences the never-ending struggles and rat race that keeps us on the wheel. The anthemic “One Bad Decision” is an aptly titled track that implores us to make the right decisions because all it takes is a bad one to completely ruin one’s life. The fun continues with “Sucka’s Delight”, a tribute jam that name-drops the pioneers who laid the foundation and “Dysfunctional” a graphic tale about hood love with a woman from a dysfunctional home. It’s quite entertaining and Esau’s knack for storytelling is impeccable. The final track “Y’all Tell Me” has a bouncy and bright vibe and sees the duo bringing things to a close with bravado raps and a touch of realism that shows their integrity as culture custodians who continue to add their quota to the game.

 

Other interesting joints include the bouncy “Puffin’ a Cloud”, the summer-drenched ”DMT” and the poignant “Stripper Addict Hooker” which shows the dark side of the profession. “Wouldn’t it be Nice” has a reggae-infused vibe and presents a what-if situation if the world was perfect and free of crime, GMO-processed foods and wealth were distributed equally.

 

Overall, #AdultContemporaryBoomBap is a cohesive and entertaining project. At 21 tracks, it can feel a bit too long for this day and age but there is a reason for that. The subject matter covered is wide and touches on real-time issues, personal experiences and the use of humour, off-kilter literary devices over a jazzy backdrop work fine as long as the plot doesn’t go missing along the way.

 

 

Watch “America” below

 

 

Keep up with Dos Hobos | SoundCloud: Spotify: Bandcamp: Website : Twitter/X : Instagram

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