EP Review: nascar aloe – HEY ASSHOLE! (Epitaph Records)

Brash and in-your-face, nascar aloe is exactly what music needs right now. Featuring a sound that’s of-the-moment and classic all at once, he’s reminiscent of recent rap scions like Jasiah and XXXTentacion as well as punk acts past and present like the Melvins and Show Me the Body. Following the wild success of his 2022 full-length AMERICAN WASTELAND, which has reached over 20 million streams to date, the underground rapper and self-taught producer is now proud to share a new EP, HEY ASSHOLE!, out on 26th May via Epitaph Records.

I really don’t know what I expected, having heard nothing by this artist before, and no description can really do the music justice. It’s rap, punk, hip-hop, EDM, rock, and so much more, but thrown into a blender and mashed up until it’s barely recognisable as any of those genres.

Credit where credit is due, nascar aloe is a unique artist and sure to draw as many detractors as he will admirers with this EP. Just look at the contrast between the first handful of tracks; HEY ASSHOLE. GAMEBOY, and DISGRACE. The first of these tracks is a simplistic punky statement, the second is an abrasive mix of chiptunes and aggressive rap, and the third has eccentric rock touches meshed with light rap. It’s as baffling as it sounds, and it’s hard to say who might like it, but based off the numbers, plenty clearly do.

Does that change with DRAG RACE, DON’T 4GET DA NAME, or OGRE? Not in the slightest, in fact it might make the bafflement even stronger. Especially when these three tracks offer up coarse, intense hip hop, and in your face hostility.

There’s something surprisingly addictive about the EP though. A curiosity to listen on, to try and understand the nascar aloe mindset, and pick apart the layers. Before you’ve even realised it, you’ve been through it several times in a row.

nascar aloe – HEY ASSHOLE! Track Listing:

1. HEY ASSHOLE
2. GAMEBOY
3. DISGRACE
4. DRAG RACE
5. DON’T 4GET DA NAME
6. OGRE

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