The Ones: Akai Solo and IBLSS’ “Star Stepper///Ageha’s Stance”

With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear curated by the Levels team. We sort through all the new songs—across all the platforms and subgenres—so you don’t have to. Thank us later.

Akai Solo and IBLSS - “Star Stepper///Ageha’s Stance”

Ten years ago I would’ve avoided Akai Solo and IBLSS’ “Star Stepper///Ageha’s Stance.” Growing up in New York, there was always that one kid in class who, while everyone was trying to spin the latest Drake and Wayne collab, was shoving Dead Prez down everyone’s throats. You know, the kind of rap that sounds like a room of people rolled the fattest blunt, read Bill Cooper’s Behold A Pale Horse, and hopped on a sample-heavy instrumental to give you the knowledge the government doesn’t want you to know. “Illuminati want my mind, soul, and my body/Secret society trying to keep they eye on me,” says Prodigy on LL Cool J’s “I Shot Ya (remix).” While I’m not saying Akai Solo and IBLSS’ is anywhere close to the third-eye raps of the past—it’s not—but the heavy themes, IBLSS’ mesmerizing loops, and Akai Solo’s tongue twister raps and infatuation with elements like destiny and space reminds me of the time. “The silver aura is an omen for our opening, don’t lose your focus kid,” says Akai. Anyway 10 years ago I was probably dumb; it was long before I ever heard the word gentrification or traveled outside of the five boroughs, but now I’m ready to accept some higher thought in my life.

Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Akai Solo and more on our Spotify playlist, Apple Music playlist, and SoundCloud playlist.

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork