Sideshow is a detail-oriented artist, so the decision to title his latest single “EXPERIMENTAL RAP” seems obviously pointed because it is. A couple weeks ago, JPEGMAFIA took shots at Earl Sweatshirt in a few interview appearances, calling his recent joint project with MIKE POMPEII // UTILITY underwhelming and not “experimental.” Earl seemed to take it in stride, posting a handful of memes to Instagram stories, but the repartee seems to have sparked a (slightly silly) conversation about what makes a rap song “experimental” or not. I’d argue it has something to do with breaking from traditional song and loop structures that shape most rap songs, though I’d also accept the argument that all rap is experimental.
Sideshow seems more likely to agree with the latter. His flow skips, flips, stutters and stops over a wizzing Dylvinci beat, all hi-hats shimmering keys. “N***as better never play, I know where everybody live / I got the drop on everybody mother, sister, even kids,” Sideshow warns breathlessly. “EXPERIMENTAL RAP” doesn’t sound like anything you’ll hear on the radio, but it’s almost too straightforward.
Then again, after the intricate world-building of TIGRAY FUNK, I’m not surprised Sideshow would want to switch it up and focus on barring out, especially when the opportunity allows him to vent his frustrations on a worthy target. “If you geeked for war, better go prepare for it,” Sideshow raps near the song’s close. “Better get a gun, learn to aim that bitch.” Then he drops a 30-second syrup-slowed outro to really let that line linger. Experimental enough for ya?
