Observing the development of hip hop is a fascinating preoccupation. Tonight, one of the more interesting groups to emerge in the last few years plays at the downtown club.
Das Racist first popped onto my radar with their fad hit, “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” which came out in 2008. But their style links them back to the beginnings of the genre with a special connection to another group that was first considered a joke by purists—the Beastie Boys.
They use obscure references including plenty of inside jokes, as well as edgy humor to create well-crafted lyrics. The duo met in college and their education shows through as well.
For those readers who may not be familiar with the band, their name itself is part of the joke since the two MCs, Himanshu Suri (aka Heems), and Victor Vazquez (aka Kool A.D., are people of color.
They put on a great show and since their debut they have been earning more street cred. Despite what hip-hop purists might say (if there are actually any left on the planet), Das Racist is here to stay.
