
Anakin isn’t the most unique in his lo-fi rap scene. He isn’t a mystic poet like Earl Sweatshirt is, or a puzzling alchemist like Mach-Hommy. His rare skill is that he can do a bit of everything, can flow over any kind of beat. “No Dough” comes from Anakin’s excellent new album, Frank, a record five years in the making. Curren$y is one of Fly Anakin’s heroes, and there’s an everyman quality to both rappers. But Anakin’s more audacious: Where Spitta’s braggadocio bars are based on the finest necklaces on the globe, Anakin puts his hunger against his haters with lines like “All my life, I’ve had to fight, so it’s fuck you.”
The best MCs are always a combination of traits. With Anakin, you have the murky and eclectic production of Ras G with the independent chops of Sean Price, mixed with the youthful jauntiness of a guy who is carrying the torch for the Richmond rap scene. That’s the kind of dynamism that leads to a long career.
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