Heems, Kool A.D.

Since the 2010 release of Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man, Brooklyn-based Das Racist, have been dubbed “alternative hip-hop” by the masses for their pseudo-serious tone, conversational verses and cultural references. They’re situated smartly in a territory less self-serious than backpack or “indie” rap, with playful nods to traditional gangster and party rap. Members Heems (Himanshu Suri) and Kool A.D. (Victor Vasquez) have made a name for themselves in the rap world, and their respective mixtapes complement their repertoire of so-called “new Kool G rap”—some 21st century s***, whatever it is.

The mixtapes serve as a canvas for Heems and Kool A.D. to independently explore new styles while staying true to the sound of their former records.

Heems’ Nehru Jackets makes solid use of samples and drum beats to set the tone of each song. “Alien Gonzalez” exemplifies this with its South-Asian chunky cymbal instrumental and vocal set, balanced with punchy sitar. The cut successfully evokes an A.R. Rahman-Kanye West collab. It also pays respect to the group’s cultural know-how. (This time, see shout-outs to Richard Karn, Karl Marx.)

‘“Womyn” uses the same elements to poke fun at the all too common “us vs. them” rhetoric, a dead horse that has been savagely clubbed to death in popular rap. Giddy Bollywood-esque vocals underscore the track’s playful beat and lyrics that reveal Heems’ vision of women: “Sometimes they like to smoke/ Sometimes they drink drinks with the little umbrellas in ‘em.” The cut ends with Heems reiterating its light-hearted (albeit reverent) mood, “Women you’re great, on behalf of men, thanks/ I’m glad to be a part of your ranks, if you accept me, women.”

Kool A.D.’s The Palm Wine Drinkard moves in a different direction more in tune with Vasquez’s personality. The record departs from Das Racist’s bouncy beats and focuses instead on a more lethargic air, coupled with short, repeated lyrics. “Girls and Women” uses an echoed synthesizer to set up Kool A.D.’s recurrent mumbled musings, like “Girls don’t think enough/ Women think too much.”

“A Ganglion of Lightning” follows the same pattern, but uses synth-pop to aestheticize a Timbaland production feel. Bouncy electro bleeps segue the following cut, “Fun,” which transitions to a Balearic nightlife vibe a la Justice, employing a nu-disco sound that differs from Heems’ hip-hop pulses.

Neither mixtape disappoints, especially for the price ($0). They effectively sample each member’s sound without divorcing their idiosyncrasies. Nehru Jackets could easily be a sequel to 2011’s Relax, whereas The Palm Wine Drinkard feels like morning-time on a booze cruise. Suri and Vasquez can only produce so much individually, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The mixtapes prove as worthy testaments to each rapper’s talent, but they don’t match the complementary greatness achieved via Das Racist.