‘Anxiety’ is an eleven track alt hip hop album from duo BAD DOG, released late last year.
Comprising rapper DURSO the PILGRIM and producer old eskimo, the Philadelphia pair challenge traditional ideas of hip hop, fusing together, in their words,
“Philadelphia alleyway drunken hobo rantings, and the gutters and sludge of depression, anxiety, cocaine addiction, and alcoholism, paired perfectly together with light humor, and some heart.”
Their music is experimental in flavour, while retaining the poetic flow of rap. ‘Eels’, featuring Phenomenon), is underpinned by a strong garage bass beat; while ‘Heightened’, which follows, contains jazz elements.
The album, in its entirety, is unusual and yet at the same time compelling. No two songs are alike: as an experimental album alone, it would be intriguing, but with the addition of rap lyrics it becomes a work of performance art. ‘Unusual’ feels like an ode to depression, and definitely fits the title of the album, ‘Anxiety’.
You can find ‘Anxiety’ on Bad Dog’s Bandcamp and SoundCloud accounts. old eskimo is on Twitter and Instagram.
Watch the official video for title track ‘Anxiety’:
