99 Neighbors - “Ripstick”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 7

Pairs Well With…Brockhampton, KOTA the Friend, Abhi the Nomad

Seven-member hip hop collective 99 Neighbors expectedly brings diverse sounds across their debut record Television and accompanying singles over the past year. Without pigeonholing, 99 Neighbors do tend to ride around down-tempo beats, encouraging jazz, trap, and classic hip hop approaches track to track. Even though each rapper in 99 Neighbors comes from different perspectives and lyrical approaches, there is a common core that the Burlington, Vermont newcomers in which they gravitate around. Smooth, understated and riding within their naturally grooving beats, 99 Neighbors use both vocalists and rappers to meld R&B and hip hop in a chillwave-ready atmosphere. Having each member play off of each other tends to push their creativity, tightly weaving stories while passing the mic between bars. It’ll be interesting to see how this lounge-ready sound translates to stage, but expect the energy quotient to be upped even when dipping into their headiest, psych rap material like on recent tracks “Thunder” and “Ripstick”. (Kevin McStravick)