Hit-Boy has had one of the most stellar careers in rap production, but over the past two years, the beatmaker has been working at a higher level than ever before.
Between his King’s Disease series with Nas, 2023’s Victims & Villains with Musiq Soulchild, and two volumes of Surf or Drown (the second of which is a collaboration with his recently released father Big Hit) Between, it’s hard to figure out when Killer Boy left the studio. Then, there’s Paisley Dreams, a project he and Pop masterminded together with The Game after a one-off studio session turned into a marathon recording night.
Suffice it to say, when news broke of his new project RENT DUE with Vallejo superstar La Russell, there was confusion and excitement all at the same time. [Khaled voice] another? Yes, it turns out that “Hit-Boy” provides the perfect West Coast palette for Russell’s Californian musings – giving the host a swarm of vibrant synths, pounding drums and chilling A piano riff that would make even the most die-hard Compton legend feel a little wobbly.
There’s a song on LaRussell’s 2023 LP (well, one of his 2023 LPs) MOTION called “Pops For President” that is very revealing as to what RENT DUE means. In that song, Russell raps: “I swear allegiance to my black people and my mama/My president is my daddy, but not Obama.” Russell is a family man, and on “RENT DUE” , he paid tribute to those who helped him get out of the woods and get to where he is now: a presenter who has, ever so quietly, shown himself to be the hottest voice in the Bay.
On the opener “LEAD ME TO THE WATER,” Tietta’s spoken introduction delayed the momentum before Hit and Russ took over the show—although the jazzy flute that accompanied the introduction and continued throughout was rather calm. LaRussell raps: “My mom raised me as a G, my dad turned me into a bastard/Section 8, four bedrooms, running up and down the halls.” Here’s Lars’ Bread and Butter, tells relatable family stories, highlighting personal anecdotes and observations that help paint a very vivid picture.
Once the fireworks started going off, there was no turning back and Russell immediately showed that he was bringing his best performance as he rapped over the beats of the likes of Hit-Boy. “ETHICS” features shimmering keyboards from MALACHI and Hit-Boy, providing a melodic backdrop to Russ’ expressive vocals. The bass is punchy, making this beat the perfect soundtrack for a top-down tour, and even though Russ is from the Bay Area, Russ thinks of Hit-Boy and his L.A. roots when he raps: “Since Nip passed away, honestly , there just aren’t many of us left/who can walk with the right side and put it down with the left. “
Preview single “ANOTHER ONE” features production assistance from Big Hit, and the result is pure West Coast magic. A piano melody lurks quietly in the background, while energetic funk bass and crackling snare drums thunder through. In the clip, Russell takes a matter-of-fact approach, delivered in a sarcastic-sounding way that’s reminiscent of other West Coast peers like Rumplestiltskin or the late, great Ruler Drake O’Brien. He hit all the talking points on the track and turned in his best performance of the event. He spits: “Don’t ask me where I’m from, you hear the beat, the West is back.”
Of course, he wouldn’t let the song end without paying homage to his mother—a tribute that gives the entire project a warm cohesion. “Hit-Boy made a mistake, we got another one/Ran-ran ran an M, I need another one/I do what I want, yeah, I’m my mother’s son/Bitch, I It’s really him and I’m the other one,” he said.
For someone with nearly 30 releases under his belt, LaRussell has a unique talent for customizing the theme of each project with specific ideas in mind. He occasionally ventures into similar territory, but there’s enough uniqueness in these seven songs to make “RENT DUE” not only worth a listen, but one of the strongest projects in his discography.
Facing a historical player like “Killer Boy”, Russell must bring out his best strokes. That confidence has fueled one of the smoothest records in the West so far this year from start to finish.
Release date: February 23, 2024
Record label: good company
Listen to Rent Due below:
