Slideshow :: Wegahta Tapes Vol. 1

It’s a risk to click play on anything that’s randomly recommended to you. At best these days a random undiscovered rapper is either a singer in disguise, a mediocre comedian who thinks putting out a rap album is funny, or a talentless hack with a low quality microphone and a ten year old computer making some self-produced noise. I’m happy to report Slidehow’s “Wegahta Tapes Vol. 1” is none of these things.

“Pick your words wise, don’t speak all that nonsense
See some visions in the night time, might make your ass nauseous
From a war torn country, I’m starving
Life’s a gamble, play that shit cautious”

In fact songs like “Henrik Clarke Kent” were a pleasant surprise. Slideshow sounds young and yet also well beyond his years in maturity. When he says he’s “much more different than y’all” he speaks the truth, because he’s coming from a place deep in his heart that’s introspective and thoughtful. He’s not a sucker or a chump, but he’s also not deliberately seeking out violence or confrontation. “If the leader dies while you’re on page 13, move to page 14 and continue the struggle” as the song says in the outro. He’s looking for a better world than the one he currently lives in.

“I’m the mayor ‘causе I dream about controllin’ the entire city”

Slideshow’s dreams are that big on “775 ChEBI” — and why not? If you can articulate it in an interesting way, put it on wax so we can press play. He’s also working with interesting producers like Na’kel Smith on “S95-BOUND” who can manipulate his voice like Madlib paying Quasimoto while still keeping him on point over a grimy track. “HP Sport” featuring MIKE has a very quiet minimalistic vibe thanks to Roper Williams. This rapper, his friends and his beat maestros are forward thinking in their approach.

I came into Slidehow’s “Wegahta Tapes Vol. 1” expecting absolutely nothing other than another homemade paint by numbers drill or emo rap. They say assumptions make an ass out of you and me but they don’t say what expectations do. Well then, I expect you to give Slideshow more of a chance than I did going in, because this is a rapper I’d like to hear more from in the future. His songs could be a little longer (and so could his albums) but this was a fine introduction to what he can do.