Ras Kass - “50450”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Jay-Z, Pharoahe Monch, Wu Tang Clan

Hip hop veteran Ras Kass is making the swing through SXSW thirty-plus years into his career, presumably to show the young rappers how it’s done. No matter the beat or stage in his career, Ras Kass is an impressive rapper laying down bars on bars across his lyrically dense tracks. He has a direct, old-school approach, a rapper’s rapper that sounds like he’s freestyling even on written tracks. Charting in the 90s, Kass has been on a new streak since around 2013, teaming up as The HRSMN alongside Canibus, Kurupt, and Killah Priest and regularly releasing new records and collaborations since. His late-stage tracks sound surprisingly strong, connecting new and old influences as Ras Kass teaches that great rap is an art form and a studied practice. His latest single is even a shoutout to himself, “50450” celebrating his 50th birthday with 50 bars under a crushing three minutes. (Kevin McStravick)