OC Notes with 100% real mustache

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These tracks are products of figures in the local hiphop scene, but aren't hiphop. OC Notes (producer for THEESatisfaction, member of Le'Roy) is behind the beats and Rik Rude (Fresh Espresso) responsible for the words/raps*.

Bossa-hop? Gurgling basement soul? Two-step swing? Tough to tell what genre these songs are in, and OC Notes seems to understand that. They come from a project for which he calls himself Dap Confuser.

"Sensuality" and "Listener's Block" have samples,* synths, drum machines, syncopated words—all rap stuff—but ride non-rap grooves. To me, that's great, however primordial they sound. Seattle is mixing rap and other types of song these days, and where blurs occur, fresh ideas are born.

And "Sensuality" is definitely fresh. "Listener's Block" is cool, and I appreciate a relationship song that expresses regret about not being a good enough listener. That's real, and a sentiment that needs to be heard. But "Sensuality" is better. The aching (Marvin Gaye?) sample sound of OC Notes' singing, tinny robot voices, and rapid-rumble bass line are effectively dynamic, complimenting each other and making the song fully realized, musically. The lo-fi drums seem ripped off from local tropical-dub set Flexions; there's an amateurish bent, but better that than overdone bad-idea club claps. Rik Rude is one of Seattle's best freestylers, and I wouldn't be surprised if his contribution came off the top of his head. He doesn't say a lot, but puts out the vibe. He also offers a possible genre name for the track: "nouveau pimpin'."

* = This post was updated after receiving an email from OC Notes 12/14/09. He said there are no samples in the songs; the Marvin Gaye-sounding stuff is him singing. He also supplied the photo of himself with 100% real mustache.