Mixtape Download: Nick Astro - Super 16 - RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture

Discover Chi-Town rapper/producer, Nick Astro. This young artist with a mature voice stands out with an innovative flow and imaginative concepts. Super 16 is described by an affiliate of Nick‘s as an “offering of short, fictitious, entertaining stories,” and it is treated as such, with each track being credited as having a “score” and the occasional “co-star.” The opening track, “Nothing Is Original” puts the artist’s Chance The Rapper-esque charismatic mumble on good display, and does a good job of introducing one of the tape’s principal themes: super-heroism. (It’s fitting that this track reminds us of Chance–production comes courtesy of one of Chance‘s go-to guys, Peter Cottentail). Elsewhere, “The Game” and “Give Me Your Lover” invite you into Nick‘s relationship tales and highlight the struggles of being broke. Overall, the mixtape might be a little too long, creating an unevenness in the quality of his tracks. For instance, “Scarlett Johansson” and “Lip Gloss” weren’t nearly as riveting as “Rainman Files Again.” The artist’s strengths lie in his story-telling skills, humility, and precision with ideas. One of the tape’s best illustrations of that last trait comes on the opening track: “If I trap now, would you hear me? Yes. / Probably invest in the monsters you invent to entertain your ignorance, you idiots…” Download Super 16 below, you’ll be glad you did. We are.