Ears Wide Open: Thurz

Andrew Veeder on November 5th, 2014

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Inglewood rapper Thurz, née Yannick Koffi, first came on the scene in 2011 with his first album, “L.A. Riot,” a politically charged project about the Rodney King beating and ensuing L.A. riots of 1992. Following his 2012 mixtape “517 W Queen Tape,” Thurz is back with a seven-track EP titled “Designer,” out this week via Red Bull Sound Select. What sets him apart is his lyrical substance, the stories he tells and the way he tells them, and “Designer” shows off this talent in a variety of ways. “21” is an infectious, upbeat ’80s-electro-esque banger with touches of disco and vocoder produced by Marlon Travis Barrow about being young and going hard. On the flip side, “Right Now” is a lush and soulful retro beat from Aaron Harris, with Thurz spitting raw rhymes about his personal life, such as “I wouldn’t rap if I knew who my father was / his substitute was a letter with no love,” and, “More reasons to love mothers / attached to their creation / but don’t you dare feel sorry, I request no pity / there’s a million other kids like me in the city / who come from broken homes / being broke and alone / is what we fear most / with no feeling to show.” The EP also features contributions from BJ the Chicago Kid, Overdoz, and producer Rahki.

||| Stream: “21” and “Right Now”