Though Atlanta trap music has been around a while, only in recent years has it cracked into mainstream American music. Turn on any commercial hip hop radio station to hear the lean-driven drawl of Future or the combination of mumbling, rapping, and singing that Young Thug puts out. Though it sometimes seems like it has become a genre driven by radio hits and record labels, some still aim to put out fresh music while not adhering to the same basic formula of modern Atlanta rap stars. Among them is Father and group, Awful Records.
While most Atlanta trap stars use strip clubs like Magic City to expose their music to fans, Father has taken a different approach. He and his friends have built a small, rabid following of fans on the Internet. His business approach isn’t the only thing that sets Father apart. Using minimal yet 808-heavy beats that he often produces and engineers himself, Father sits perfectly at the intersection of Internet rap hipster and trap star. He values having fun and making unique music with his friends over cultivating an image of toughness. Though his voice can be a little off-putting at first, heavy beats and catchy hooks will eventually have you belting out every lyric at full volume. Above all, Father doesn’t take himself or his music too seriously and asks that his fans don’t as well.
For an introduction to Father, check out his mini-hit “Look at Wrist” that features fellow Atlanta fringe stars Key! And ILoveMakonnen. Other good songs include “Nokia”, “Back in the ‘A’”, and “Young Hot Ebony”.
You can see Father perform at Hopscotch Music Fest here in Raleigh Friday at 11:00 at Lincoln Theatre. Keep on an eye on the WKNC blog for more exclusive content leading up to the festival.