It’s good to hear more and more rap taking race head on, like parts of Childish Major’s latest single, “Window Seat”. His vocals sound a little bit like A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, as he namechecks the latter’s song “Bonita Applebum” in a verse about being impatient: “A need a check that’s thicker than Bonita …” But it’s what he does after that’s most impressive, rolling into these verses about confrontation: “I’m from the place where the Klan come / We was minding business then they told us to ‘hands up’ / Knowing shit ain’t right, forcing a nigga to stand up / Are we just that bad or is just bad luck? / Oh, you black huh? / Til it’s time to be black then you back up.” Besides his mellow flow and his ability to ease through slick pivoting rhymes (“I can wait up all alone and get my own / Knocking at the shelter doors like it’s home”) there’s something deeper than your standard rap fare here. The Atlanta producer is touching on what it means to be black. Follow Childish Major on twitter. — David D. Robbins Jr.
theirbatedbreath.wordpress.com 