Jordan Looney

Nerd-Hop Vol. 2

Review by Jack Spencer

Jordan Looney’s mixtape Nerd-Hop Vol. 2 has a somewhat misleading name. With an album cover sporting a Game Boy and a liberal use of the word “Nerd,” my first impression prior to listening was that this would be an excursion into the somewhat unfortunate world of what is termed “nerdcore," that decidedly lame brand of rap music concerned with Star Wars, math, and pocket protectors. I was pleasantly surprised to hear a bevy of slick lyricism and new school rap swagger, shattering my notions of what “nerd rap” meant. “Nerd-Hop is a state of mind," says Looney in his artist's statement, laying out the whole philosophy behind the title. “[A nerd] usually holds a negative connotation: socially awkward, weak, always stuck in a book. We are shining a new light on the nerd community.” It seems Looney is attempting to redefine nerd rap, as the sound and lyrics on Nerd-Hop Vol. 2 do not reflect the gimmickry associated with nerdcore acts like MC Frontalot and MC Chris. “To me a NERD is someone who is intelligent and passionate to the point of insanity about anything. You could be a nerd about fashion, music, sports, even selling yayo,” Looney continues. Unlike Charles Hamilton’s laughable “Gospel of Sonic” ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFDY62oZv_4 ) belief system, Looney espouses a philosophy here that actually makes some sense, and you can hear this passion for rap reflected in all 11 songs on this album.

Nerd-Hop Vol. 2 is an engaging and excellent listen all the way through. Looney’s rapping is remarkable, combining a smooth vocal inflection with a tight sense of rhythm and studied lyrical prowess. The young St. Paul via Chicago rapper’s style is fresh and exhilarating, reminiscent of the cadre of talented up and comers like Lupe Fiasco, Drake, and Muja Messiah, seeming determined to prove that hip-hop is still vibrant and very much alive. Looney proves his passion for hip-hop in every song, combining the swagger of late 2000’s rap with the attention to lyricism mostly associated with older school rap. Quoting Fiasco when introducing closing track “Failure," the hungry MC makes a point of saying that “it’s coming back around, to the lyrics,” and the preceding songs certainly attempt to prove this. The electronica opener “Sleepyhead,” produced by Passion Pit, starts things off strong, with an airy club beat that allows Looney to show off his skills. As if to prove his adeptness over any type of beat, the Jake One-produced “Like That” follows, with a guitar-and-drum centered sound that finds Looney just as powerful over more organic sounds. The mixtape continues to weave through a variety of sounds, from the slow minimalist “Karate Dude” to the dark synthesized sound of “Nothing To Lose” to the slickness of “Oh My World” and “Europe." The beats are varied throughout and keep things interesting and listenable, and Looney sounds comfortable over every backdrop. His style is elastic enough to fit over any kind of beat he touches, all the while staying consistent and making it seem effortless.

The few guest appearances on Nerd-Hop Vol. 2 fit in well, adding to the overall sound rather than distracting from Looney’s individual sound. From Mo Greene’s guest spot on “Oh My World," a song about picking up women, to Walt’s guest spot on the excellent “What If," a political diatribe concerning racial and economic issues, the featured rappers hold their own alongside Looney without outshining or detracting from his sound. The song, which samples Obama speeches without being trite or cheesy, shows off Looney’s multifaceted mind by focusing on topics outside of most rapper’s reach. The song raises questions about the way the world is and how it could be:

“What if slaves had gotten paid for the labor they did / Would more black males stay to raise they babies and kids / Maybe the way that we live would be considerably different / What if we didn’t call women hos and bitches... Yo the world of tomorrow’s how you see it today / If you believe then you may break the obstacles that be in your way.”

The song comes off not as an attempt to jump on political themes as a trend, and never sounds faux-deep or insufferable. Looney’s lyrical talent is evident here, as he never sacrifices his swagger or tight flow when rapping on any topic. He sounds just as capable on introspective rhymes as he does when bragging or talking about weed and women. His voice is infectious and makes every song entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time.

Jordan Looney touts himself as a nerd because he believes in being yourself. One thing Looney does have in common with “nerdcore” is that he raps about what he feels without caring how people might take it. The problem with nerdcore is similar to the problem with gangsta rap: The gimmick is often poured on too thick. Looney does not fall into this trap and stays true to his philosophy. There are but a handful of rappers coming up who have the the skill and range that Looney displays. He combines the hunger of a young underground rapper with the hard-earned talent of an old guard veteran. The mixtape offers up so much quality material that it merits multiple listens, and will get better with each one.