Nate DAE Pushes Hip-Hop's Limits With 'Such Is Life'
Photo Credit: @khalilosborne, @conn9r, and @directionbycg
Four years have passed since Florida rapper and singer Nate DAE released his debut record California PSA, but this month the wait for a new project has finally ended. Returning with his sophomore LP Such is Life, Nate DAE hits the ground running in 2021 with one of this year's most solid hip-hop projects. Known for his versatile vocals and genre-bending tracks, Such is Life sees Nate DAE synthesizing countless musical styles to deliver fans an expansive and carefully produced 30-minute project. With featured performances from Brockhampton's Jabari to Kanye-collaborator Johan Lenox, Such is Life has the potential to propel Nate DAE into the spotlight this year - and he is definitely ready for it.
One of the most unique aspects to Such is Life is how incredibly Nate DAE fares on 11 dynamic and diverse tracks that span from internet-rap to indie-rock anthems, however, this is also what makes the album so difficult to put into words. How does one describe the progression from "Soul" - a hard-hitting glitchy banger with a mix that sounds like it could have been pulled from a Nintendo 64 game - to the ethereal and hypnotic R&B-flavored cut "Lean (You Know)?"How does one level the bounce and southern swagger embedded in "Why" with Jabari, when just 10 minutes later Johan Lenox enters the fold with the cinematic yet desolate indie-rock track "Night Time?" Perhaps it's impossible, but the one common thread that holds Such is Life together is without a doubt Nate DAE's creative prowess. Whether he's on the off-kilter album closer "Ended," or the sultry and infectiously-catchy "Never" with Brook Benson and K. Nové, Nate DAE remains constantly confident, effortlessly flowing from one genre to the next.
Such is Life is an essential album to listen to in 2021, as it is a masterclass in genre-bending that pushes the culture forward. The result of this effort, however, is not merely just x-inspired hip-hop, but something entirely new - with Nate DAE truly making a strong case for why he is up next on music's main stage. Nate DAE's artistic ability is not only limited to music, as his multimedia background adds multiple layers to his intricate artistry - especially with a video for "Ain't Sweet" on the way. Amplifying records like Such is Life is how we as music fans avoid years of stagnating records that try to emulate whatever was hot the year prior. Though there are certainly clear influences ingrained into Nate DAE's style, writing, and aesthetic - it never feels like he's trying to 'be' any of them. Such Is Life is a phenomenal record that sets Nate DAE apart from the crowd, and it is only a matter of time until a new generation of artists follow in his tracks.