Girl Unit, Wut EP
We’ve been talking a lot in my Theories of Pop Culture class about the ramifications of an increasingly trans-national, globalized world economy, and with that, the mixing and matching of cultural practices. There’s my springboard, here’s the pool: dubstep. For all of its quirks, 90% of it is migraine-inducing garbage, championed and sustained by the jaw-dropping mediocrity of the scene’s imagination. However, that small remainder of 10% or so happens to be the breeding ground for some truly fascinating electronic music. My current favorite of this tiny, exciting faction: Girl Unit.
Yeah, the name makes me giggle. Especially the moment the beat drops on standout track “Wut,” when you realize this motherfucker ain’t no regular laptop-wielding sissy, but a sample-chopping titan come down from the heavens declaring “shake that ass or perish.” Make no mistake, these are bone-crushing, ‘bow-throwing, crunked-the-fuck-out bangers made to export directly to the dance floor, but through the blend of heavy drums, shimmery synths, and impeccably manipulated vocal samples they retain that almost sexual euphoria that the best electronica gives its listeners. With only the smallest necessary bassline wobbles and circular rhythm patterns paying homage to the vestige formerly known as dubstep, Girl Unit explodes the genre’s conventions outward, channeling the fragmented remains through the filters of Mannie Fresh, Lil Jon, and Cool & Dre. Call it ghettotech, call it streetstep, call it the soundtrack to Soulja Boy’s next unintelligible batch of idiot swag; doesn’t really matter when those thunderous 808 kicks and claps start turning your brain into Jell-O.
With two EPs out, and the movement away from UK traditions becoming much more clear on the second, not to mention absolutely fan-fucking-tastic Wut EP, I’ve got high hopes for this 20-something mutant ninja turtle. The state of American hip-hop is no doubt questionable at best, despite Wiz and Weezy’s best efforts, and it’s refreshing to reconnect with the foundation of its intensity (i.e. bangin’ ass beats) without having to be force-fed all that corny hyper-masculine bullshit. Southern rap will always hold a special place in my heart (yeah, I’ve got Waka Flocka Flame in steady rotation), but Girl Unit offers me the chance to enjoy the aesthetic without feeling like a total fucking sellout. So go ahead and get your meanmug on, flash them gold fronts, and find some pretty young thing whose hips be swangin’. Shit’s fire.
Love,
Henry Fessinelli
haha oh my god yes. checkin this for sure.
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