Whirlwind D In Toyland

It's been about a year, so I'd say it's about time for a new Whirlwind D record.  And sure enough, we've got a brand new 7" single from AE Productions called "On the Floor."

One would naturally assume this is the long-awaited Hip-Hop remake of Johnny Gill's smash hit single "The Floor," but no, it's actually an homage to his childhood toys that he used to leave on the floor, from Steve Austin to Skeletor and his horde.  Honestly, that nostalgia bait-y listing thing has never done much for me.  "Hey, remember these things" feels a little thin for a proper song.  But D actually gets ahead of my criticism in his final verse: "you may say, 'hey, it's all trivial;' and I kind of agree.  But reminiscing on the past is a way to be free of all the death and destruction and the permanent noise.  So kick back with me and don't be one of the toys."  So fair cop!  It's probably on me for being too much of a grump to get into the spirit of things (honestly, Hot Karl may've poisoned the well for me).

At any rate, I really like the high-pace track (I had to double-check I wasn't supposed to be playing this at 33 when I fired it up the first time) with Djar One's hyper-kinetic cutting for a hook.  And the way they keep constantly, rapidly hitting that horn blare ...It's a very PE-style move until it breaks out into a funky little solo at the end.  D isn't an MC I typically think of as a Fast Rapper©, but he keeps up with it effortlessly.

And everything pulls together for me on the B-side, "Watcha Waitin' For," another Djar One produced track, this time on the funkier side, but with plenty more killer cuts.  It's still not a song about death and destruction and the permanent noise, but it's no trifle.  It's a duet with London OG Blade (I wrote about a record by his son a few years ago).  There's a consistent message of self empowerment and seizing the day, but I particularly like the wild flourish Blade puts on the material in the last verse, "either you can be a fish in a bowl or a shark in the ocean, wide open, nobody controls you.  Swim like the world's yours.  You make the rules; you can break the laws.  Man made escapades adventure seeker.  Lurkin' in the undergrowth, underhanded creatures.  Hierarchy threat to the ecosystem food-chain."  It's like when Rakim started off rapping about how he writes a rhyme but his metaphor expanded and expanded to the point where "the Earth gets further and further away [and] planets are small as balls of clay."  Alright, man, go off!

So "B-side wins again," as the saying goes, but I really do like the instrumental and energy of "On the Floor" as well.  Together, they make another strong limited edition single fans won't want to let get away.  It comes in a cool picture cover (that has taught me I'll never be able to build a microphone  haha) and sounds good when you crank it up.