Did Russ Bring Back Soul Samples With This Beat?
Source: Twitter
The “What They Want” MC previewed a beat on Twitter. The response was divisive.
If you’re a fan of sample-driven beats, Atlanta-via-New Jersey rapper Russ may have just what you’re looking for. On Wednesday, he took to Twitter to preview a new track he’s working on.
bring soul samples back 2020 #imreallymefr pic.twitter.com/p6wGjlnvkJ
— Russ (@russdiemon) March 25, 2020
Rap Twitter reacted as only it could. Harshly. Some compared the beat to EA Sports’ NBA Street Vol. 2 menu music. Another twitter user said the production reminded them of “the transition music from MTV Cribs.”
— Eddy (@EddyNicholasOFG) March 26, 2020
— 🖤 (@amblacc) March 26, 2020
Bandana MC Freddie Gibbs quoted the tweet. Apparently Russ hadn’t heard of the Gary, Indiana MC’s two projects with Madlib.
We already did that bro. https://t.co/Pvn8is4Y0W
— Skinny Suge (@FreddieGibbs) March 26, 2020
Atlanta producer/rapper Childish Major responded with some advice.
Lol un quantize everything and it’ll be good https://t.co/3ETVvQruhv
— Childish Major (@ChildishMajor) March 26, 2020
Unfortunately for Childish Major, his advice wasn’t exactly received in good spirits.
Producers who are talking shit in my mentions, post the sales of your beats and what they’ve accomplished. Just curious lol
If you didn’t talk shit in the past 24 hours, this doesn’t apply to you
— RUSS (@russdiemon) March 26, 2020
I’m waitin https://t.co/e7ZED9mzFt
— RUSS (@russdiemon) March 26, 2020
And Childish Major maintains it was all in good fun.
Lol the man of morals went straight to sales after we joke a little? @russdiemon have some fun my boy
— Childish Major (@ChildishMajor) March 26, 2020
READ: Metro Boomin Calls Russ “Wack in Spirit” After He Insults Producers
Fortunately, Russ took the jokes in stride.
Y’all really takin me postin a quick chop for the gram hella serious lol glad y’all gettin your jokes off. Hope any of y’all artists or producers talkin shit own your music tho otherwise in times like these, jokes on you lol
— RUSS (@russdiemon) March 26, 2020
This period of shelter-at-home orders and self-isolation has given Russ more time to cook up tracks all on his own.
Russ made headlines back in 2017 after insulting the state of production in hip-hop. In an interview with VladTV, he blamed producers for the “state of hip-hop.”
READ: Russ Officially Announces His “I See You Tour Part 1” For North America
“People think that you blame the rappers for the state of hip-hop,” he told Vlad. “Rappers are not making the music. You gotta blame the producers. If all I do is rap, I’m a vocalist. If a producer sends me a pack of 20 beats, and they’re all wack and all sound the same, I’m just fucked. I gotta pick the best of the worst.”
Many producers, most notably Metro Boomin, took offense to the comments. It now appears that Russ is taking matters into his own hands.
