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The South still revolves around Gucci Mane. So when he signs an artist to his revamped 1017 Records or spotlights a rapper on a compilation tape, it’s a big deal. On last year’s So Icy Boyz, Arkansas rappers BiC Fizzle and Cootie stole the show with their natural chemistry.
Cootie caught my attention again with Welcome to the Trap, a mixtape he released last week. On the song “Dead Presidents,” he pairs his heavy, rumbling voice with blunt trap tales, bringing to mind the work of Young Dolph or Key Glock. Obviously, there’s some Gucci sprinkled in there, and you can tell he’s spent time with a foundational Atlanta mixtape like EA Sportscenter from the way he tumbles over a shimmering Zaytoven-like beat. Cootie has clearly been immersed in the last few decades of Southern rap history, but he isn’t weighed down by his influences.
With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace, it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear.
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Cootie and more on our Spotify playlist.
