Most rappers can solely dream of singing as highly effective as PGF Nuk’s breakout single, “Waddup.” Superficially it appears like a fairly customary drill monitor—terse verses in a wrought-iron stream, lean percussion, a sparse synth melody as chilly as a dusty pipe organ—however Nuk places it excessive along with his fashion. The Englewood native’s refined but pugilistic efficiency has simply sufficient swing to really feel unpredictable. He may lag simply behind the beat or bounce forward of it ever so barely to drive house his menacing, unsettling lyrics. Like all the perfect drill, “Waddup” channels its sense of risk into adrenalized enjoyable concisely sufficient to slip proper onto rap-radio playlists. It may carry a whole album, and it’s so good it may seem on that album greater than as soon as—which it does. Nuk’s new self-released Change Music features a model of “Waddup” that options star Chicago rapper Polo G (Nuk’s cousin by marriage) and closes with a “Waddup” remix that features a visitor spot by fellow Chicago hip-hop heavyweight G Herbo (who additionally drops in on opener “Scorching Summer time”). Change Music feels a bit lengthy and suffers from some odd pacing, however when Nuk shines—as he does towards the uncooked, blown-out bass of “5 Guys”—he appears like he could make mincemeat of something in his approach.
PGF Nuk’s Change Music is offered via the artist’s website.
