New Video: Taro feat. Madeleine Curtis - "Karma" (prod. Hi-Tek) - RESPECT.

New York rapper Taro is fairly mysterious. Similar to his last video, “Karma” features the wordsmith posted around New York City, variously smoking, strolling, staring back at the camera, and of course, rapping his ass off. Yet, while we get these various images of him, there’s a tangible feeling of distance. Even when Taro‘s the focal point of a shot, aggressively gesticulating his rhymes directly at the camera, he manages to displace himself and emphasize the song. It’s almost as if, in lieu of the ability to hire an animator, he animates the video himself, the goal being his own self-displacement.

This is uncommon for rap videos, but the effect is powerful. Taro can obviously rap and he can rap well, but this self-displacement clearly shows that he’s more interested in being respected as a songwriter rather than just as a rapper. If you pay attention to the volume of Hi-Tek‘s slap-happy, soulful instrumental, you’ll notice that it nearly drowns Taro out. Every time Madeleine Curtis moans in the background, Taro is rendered nearly inaudible, yet he seems to be perfectly fine with this. This is what happens when rappers focus on their music more than themselves. Hopefully, karma will reward Taro for his focus. Watch “Karma” below.