[mp3] Das Racist // Swate (ft. Lakutis)

Written on February 4, 2011 by Will in Music

dasracistlawn [mp3] Das Racist // Swate (ft. Lakutis)

“This is not a continuum, we are trying to build here,” Heems of Das Racist said during the group’s recent stop at Rochester’s Dubland Underground. It’s really up to Das Racist if it wants to view itself outside of the rap continuum, but it doesn’t really matter, because it is definitely building something. On the strength of two 2010 mixtapes, Das Racist is definitely earning its rap stripes and moving beyond joke rapper status, away from songs like “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.”

“Swate” represents the next step in the Das Racist evolution. Over a fantastic Mike Finito beat, Heems steals the spotlight with his wordplay and goofy pop culture allusions. For instance, “They like, ‘Heems, you should rap in earnest.’ But honestly I’d rather burn sess and watch Ernest Goes to Jail, Goes to Camp, even To the Army. Got a sense of humor so they say the kids smarmy.” Not many rappers would namecheck the Jim Varney classics, but Heems is definitely unlike most other rappers. And that’s what makes Das Racist so awesome. The trio drops allusions to everything imaginable, make many of the brainless masses think a little, and reward those who listen carefully with a healthy dose of laughs.

[mp3] Das Racist // Swate

In the recent Rochester show, Heems presented himself in different states of undress. He started the show with a baggy Cosby Show-worthy sweater, sweated his way down to a T-Shirt, and eventually found himself rocking the stage in a wifebeater. Hell, Heems even found himself wearing a homemade shirt from the audience that called out fellow rapper Dapwell. Das Racist understands its role as rappers.

A recent twitter follower asked Heems why he hadn’t commented on the recent strife in Egypt. In typical Das Racist fashion, Heems shot back “cuz I’m a drug addled rapper not rachel maddow.” Long live the burgeoning Das Racist empire.