Rebellion smells sweet, coming off the bat like a freshly lit cigar in the smoke-filled backroom. “Outlawz – Remix” by Crimson Dot is the sonic equivalent of a wink and a nod to come join the wayward and villainous for a proposition. This notorious supervillain-turned-rapper managed to torture an entrancing concoction from the ether, one that will leave you doubting the fabric of morality.
HEEXX and Junii come together, their rhymes intertwined with Crimson Dot in a tapestry of youthful defiance that outlines the graffiti tag left on city walls. The production by 47 Quid is a masterclass in tension and release-a fusion of dark alleys and pokey basements where hip-hop’s underground revolution was born. These beats start low in the belly, a fire that fuels the lyrical pyromania of the trio.
But “Outlawz – Remix” is more of a call-to-arms manifesto, Crimson Dot at the wheel of villainy as his words lead the next generation down a path of mischief and mayhem. His words are a twisted form of empowerment as he leads the young and restless to abandon the status quo and forge their own paths. The message is hypnotic and disconcerting in the same way-a whispered secret across a crowded room.
“Outlawz – Remix” playing in my head reminds me of the Dadaist art movement of denial to the mainstream, rejoicing in chaos and disorder. This is Crimson Dot’s version, only musical; it’s like the middle finger pointed at all establishments. And yet, even in this anarchy, there would seem to be a tiny flicker of hope: hope for the next generation to find its voice, its way of rebellion. Will they heed the call of Crimson Dot, or will they do their own thing? The whole world is watching and waiting, and the choice seems far from obvious.
