With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear curated by the Levels team. We sort through all the new songs—across all the platforms and subgenres—so you don’t have to. Thank us later.
Every few weeks on SoundCloud, Virginia’s GAWD has a new mixtape. His most recent tape, UP! (THE PRICE), was said to signify him raising the cost to lease one of his beats, but normally he drops music with a shrug. As a producer, GAWD is beginning to develop a signature sound, with airy synths, and a thudding and distorted bass. His delivery is true to Virginia, drifting under the busy production like Black Kray and leaning on voice alteration like Lil Ugly Mane.
On “DNT DO DAT,” GAWD’s production sets the scene, incorporating a bright melody, chords reminiscent of the days when kids outside wore Odd Future donut socks, and a bass loud enough that if you’re wearing shitty headphones the static will tickle the inside of your ears. He raps in a low-pitched voice, using an onslaught of catchy ad-libs and relying on heavy repetition. But “DNT DO DAT” isn’t about the production or rapping on their own, it’s the unification of the two and the hazy feel they create.
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from GAWD and more on our Spotify playlist, Apple Music playlist, and SoundCloud playlist.
