Video Premiere : Sam Rubik ft. Western Tink - "HURT U" (prod. Lytesho!) - RESPECT.

Sam Rubik calls up Western Tink for “HURT U”, produced by Lytesho!, off of his tape Survival Tactics, released by CUTTINGPRACTICE.COM back in late May. In this video, the two Texas representatives spend their time engulfed by a piercing darkness, interrupted only by blistering expulsions of light from unfathomable distances. Rubik‘s seven-track EP follows his work through a host of dedicated attempts at various sub-genres and textures in rap. “HURT U” is an example of his experiment into the psychoactive fluctuations that can rattle and broadside an audience, instilling a sense of unease into his work.

Lytesho!‘s instrumental ties quivering ropes around this piece, loosely and slowly twisting together a funereal procession. Organs whimper a raspy solvent throughout the piece, slowly wearing away at the edges of the instrumental. Pushing this decay further, Lyte! includes a rolling synth to round the brim of the instrumental to a critical curve. But he does give listeners moments of release. A distant crack, a silenced cymbal and a kick drum provide instances of unwavering relief. These are the only sounds whose presence is restricted; all others shift around, masticating one another, and bristling against the others. Together, these elements play into a disorienting trounce around an ever-deepening pit of static discomfort.

Props to Sam Rubik and Western Tink for deciding to go all in on such an intimidating sound. Very few artists have the dexterity to stare this instrumental down, commanding it into place. Resting atop drum fluctuations, Rubik cracks bars on riding dirty with the 90s swag, disregarding scripted scenarios, and trusting yourself. With a hint of empowering words for his listeners, he focuses on his personal journey to rap’s center stage. And what the fuck is a chorus? Tink has no concerns, heading in face first, speaking on stepping outside of the norm, feeling comfortable at all times, gettin’ it to finessin’ it, and being buried a legend. Following Rubik‘s lead, Tink presents himself as a man unhinged and unafraid. Together, with Sam Rubik at the helm, these lyricists reach new depths of sound experimentation, empowering themselves to grow as artists, and their fans to grow as individuals.

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This video is the first part of a two-part video series, with the second video dropping next week. So sit back and wait for what’s next from Sam Rubik and you’ll finally tie this carefully loosened knot together.