As the decade draws to a close, maybe — just maybe — the mainstream is ready for the kind of weirdo rap that fans of acts like MF Doom, Danny Brown and Earl Sweatshirt have been clamouring for on the sidelines, since what we now quaintly reminisce over as the “bling era.” Hip hop made peace with itself as multi-billion dollar industry this decade, encouraging the likes of home-studio talents like JPEGMAFIA to set their sights higher than the cool-kid crowd. This very recent album’s impact can’t be gauged yet, but its creator’s will is audible and when the fans are ready, his off-kilter charm and alt sensibility are tailor-made for the future.
