Coast Contra throws a good dose of salt into the Los Angeles hip-hop scene with their unique sound. Consisting of the talented RioLoz and dynamic twins Taj and Ras Austin, the children of the legendary Ras Kass, the group is led by the astute Eric Jamal. In the spring of 2022, their debut album *Apt. 505* firmly grabbed the attention of the scene, and it tastes like more. Their EP *The Old Way* that followed in the fall showed how versatile these guys are, especially after their contributions on the albums of greats like Masta Ace and Talib Kweli. Equally impressive was their collaboration with piano artist Kamasi Washington for his album *Fearless Movement* a year earlier in collaboration with top producer Marco Polo for their second EP.
The track "Mountain Climbers" flies in with those old-school jazzy vibes and a message that hard work is the key to success. "'08 Obama" then throws in a soulful sample backed by solid kicks and snares. They rap about how their creations are raw and unpolished, while "Shanghai Tower" takes you into the luxurious realms with a romantic twist, perfectly explained by a sophisticated boom bap beat.
The second half of the EP sets the vibes straight. "Been a Minute" tries to make up with partners and does so with a musical backdrop of strings, kicks and snares. "Sunday Regulars" responds to the spiritual side of music with its gospel and boom bap mix. The final movement, the dusty and piano-powered title track, is Coast Contra's crowning achievement. The magic and chemistry between the members attract such an intense vibe that you simply cannot ignore it.
Coast Contra's emerging success feels like a relief in the world of hip-hop as they offer raw talent, intense vibe and unparalleled lyricism. It's clear that they used more than a decade of experience to pull off this project. And Marco Polo's productions have flawlessly fused boom bap vibes, jazz rap and a generous helping of soul and gospel into a rich soundscape that Coast Contra perfectly support to show that they are here to stay.
This EP gets a salty 9/10 from us, a masterpiece worth putting on replay. Coast Contra has more than earned their place in the scene with this project. What do you think? Do you already have a favorite track from the EP? Let us know and stay up to date with all the salty news by signing up for our weekly newsletter! Because hip-hop heads, these are vibes you don't want to miss.
#hhz #houhet salt #hiphop #jazzrap #trap
