Gajah

Gajah might be LA's most recognizable chop virtuoso. The dude packs more syllables into a bar than Japanese people on mass transit. Dude's raps are like sausages. Stuffed!

He's got a new record out called Hands of Gold Are Always Cold on Uncommon Records, produced wholly by Uncommon Nasa.

Gajah cut his teeth as part of a Los Angeles duo known as Acid Reign. He and partner, Beond, formed a super team of opposites while sharpening their swords on the eardrums of heads attending the world famous Project Blowed. Gajah's been cosigned by the innovators of his rapid fire raps.

Another thing I love about Gajah is, that even if you aren't a fan, you can immediately tell it's him. His voice and delivery are so consistent, his style so refined, it's impossible to mistake him for any other rapper breathing or otherwise. And that's the highest compliment I think I can pay him.

Second, Gajah would give you the fucking shirt off his back, even if I just needed to see his svelte chest as he inhales before 16 nonstop bars of ridiculous rap recidivism. While dude is a repeat offender when it comes to microphone murder, he's one of the nicest people I've ever met. Truly, a man of the people, a family man, a friend to many. He's always quick with a dap, a smile. He doesn't even get mad when I ruffle his curls and call him Tiger. (For the record this has never actually happened though I highly doubt he'd trip if it did.)

Third. There are emcees who can chop it up faster than Gajah, there are rappers who can rap more rapidly, but there isn't a single rapper that can as clear at such sonic-boom producing speeds. Dude breaks the sound barrier as casually as a conversation. It's fucking incredible.

On Hands of Gold Are Always Cold, Gajah enlists the production prowess of Uncommon Nasa. And that enlisting was a goddamned great enlisting if enlisting is something that can be called goddamned great. Uncommon Nasa's production perfectly compliments Gajah's trademark and unmistakable rhythm. It's like the two are locking hands and spinning around really fast, heads thrown back, and mouths emitting throaty guffaws. Only when they inevitably lose grip and fall, uncontrollably laughing, to the ground, it's the listener who is left dizzy and grateful!