Minneapolis based rapper P.O.S embarked on a new tour last night with his crew, Doomtree, and they’re passing through the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on November 26th. Rad.
P.O.S., who happens to be one of Astronautalis’ best buds and is working on a collaborative album with him, brings a punk rock vibe and a critical inquisitiveness to his rap. His latest album, 2009’s Never Better, is an all out audio assault, with P.O.S. blasting the government, money grabbers, hypocrites, and anybody else that deserves it with a lyrical dexterity that leaves jaws agape and most rappers jealous. The first song, “Let it Rattle,” opens the floodgates for P.O.S.’ angry genius to pour forth as he delivers a sort of “State of the nation address” that sets the tone for the album to follow. The deluge continues with “Drumroll (We’re All Thirsty),” the heaviest, craziest rap song I’ve ever heard, that is reigned in only by P.O.S.’ masterful machine-gun rapping, some of the quickest out there. “Purexed,” an epic song that defies genre categorization and in which P.O.S. openly discusses personal weaknesses and failures—weaknesses and failures that might as well be those of all disillusioned youths—evokes feelings of empathy and unity, a rare thing in rap given the propensity of many rappers to be egomaniacal.
The hits keep coming with songs like “Been Afraid,” the story of an abused girl with struggling with her demons, “Low Lights Low Life,” one of the catchiest rap songs I can think of (featuring Dessa, an excellent rapper and fellow Doomtree member), and “Optimist (We Are Not for Them),” another song in which P.O.S. raps with admirable and refreshing candor. The album closes out with “Hand Made Hand Gun,” a bruising, fuzzy song featuring Astronautalis. You can definitely feel Astro’s influence.
The Doomtree tour is hitting most US cities, so keep your eyes peeled. It’s going to be a good one.