On The Anthems Of Michael Nhat And New Wave Hip Hop

I have to admit that it's taken me a little while to come to the conclusion that LA based Michael Nhat has one of the most singular and different voices in underground hip hop - his music as he describes, new wave hip hop.

And it has a vision.

Provocative, sometimes dark, self-aware, sometimes existing in that space between something completely different and maybe too much.

If nothing else unique in its effort for that vision.

Holy Smoke



If all hip hop artists have at least one song about smoking weed, this is Nhat's (from around a year ago) - and it's done in the Nhat way.

It's not a house party.

Make sure to listen to it all the way through.

A Reasonable Man



One his latest tracks, I just don't know how you can't bop along to this anthem of the underdog - and don't tell me you don't like the video either.

It's a clown.

And Anonymous masks.

They Have A Noose For Me



Probably the darkest song I've heard from Michael Nhat, I've been trying to think about something that comes close to being comparable from a hip hop genre perspective and I can't. It's a confessional and observatory where brutal honesty (a trait of Nhat's songs) fuse with a melodic chorus all split into sometimes jarring visuals. I did ask Michael Nhat about one verse. There is I think some artistic license going on there. At the same time it's the now adult Nhat who can talk about his younger self and being witness to a culture of patriarchy, not glorifying, but demonizing it.

Again - this isn't OPP.

What If You Looked Like The Devil?



I just challenge you to watch the whole video and tell me there's anyone else doing this.

Anyone.

Anything even remotely close.

P.S.

For something earlier (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQscFKzcFb0).