INDIE 500: Herb N’Development (Housing Authority)
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I have a firm belief that there is a lot of good hip-hop out there. But with the advent of the Internet as a viable medium to distribute new music, its easy to get lost in the shuffle. There are a lot of good artists out there who are struggling to be heard and to get the attention of labels and industry cats. The positive side of this is that the quality of the music being brought into the world is going up – that’s a good thing for hip-hop. You just need to know where to look.
I was recently slid a copy of Herb N’Development a “grind tape” from NY duo Housing Authority . Mic Duela and Face Off are two currently unsigned dudes hailing from Strong Island and Queens who have already released a well received mixtape, Project Building , back in 2006.
The good thing to know about Housing Authority is that they are rap dudes after my own heart (well, that certainly makes me feel better). They have grown tired of the trap music, bragging on how many bodies you caught or how much weight you move. I have heard many a smart MC say “rap what you know” and HA is doing that. And props to them. Eff a crack game – just trying to get by in NYC can be hectic enough.
From the beginning, Herb N’Development reminds me of 2008 De La, Joe Budden, Talib Kweli and other spitters cut from a similar cloth. Both Duela and Face are nice on the mic and the subject matter is varied enough that it keeps you listening. Both drop lines about things that most heads understand: girls, bills, drama and that there grind. Peep two choice joints:
“Vice City”
“U&I”
Herb N’Development is definitely a solid outing, but there are a few moments where the boys drop their guard. Cats like Duela and Face don’t need to do a joint like “Swagger Like Housin”, which is just following the crowd. Instead, if you want to hear these dudes spit over a well-known track, check “EZ As That” for the HA treatment of a classic ROC ditty.
I also get the comedic value of “F**k U Girl”, but isn’t this the same throw away mess that heads get mad at for putting on an album in the first place? I ain’t mad at them.
If you’re looking for rappers who go in on all types of tracks, then you should check Herb N’Development . These are the guys in a cipher you need to watch for; no punchline kings here, they have rhymes for days. They’ll wear you out, son.
Sure, there’s no autotune, Lil Wayne appearance, Akon hook or any other stale formula to be had. This is pure sample-driven, boom bap hip-hop. My kind of housing authority. When can I move in?
