the best rapper right now?

About a month and a half ago, I got a CD by some rapper named Nump. I found the artwork for the album a little interesting as it looked like the kind of Pen-N-Pixel art that was all the rage back in the mid-to-late 90's. Seeing that Nump's album, "The Numpyard," was released by E-40's Sick Wid It Records, I had no other choice but to assume that it was a hyphy record.

And indeed it was. But unlike most Bay Area rap these days, it didn't suck. Actually, if I may be so bold, Nump might be the best new rapper right now. Of course, being the best new rapper isn't a hard feat, seeing as hip-hop has been pretty stagnant for the last four years or so. Nump seems to be exception, however; his wordplay and flow is similar to mentor and label boss, E-40, but he's still able to command his own voice. The production on Nump's album is equally as engaging. The song, "Slizzured," features a prominent Inspector Gadget sample that's just crazy. To top it off, Nump also happens to be Filipino, a fact that is never overplayed and, in fact, is never mentioned, save for the picture on the back of the booklet where he is eating a plate of lumpia. Unlike most Filipino-American rappers who use their ethnicity as their crutch or their gimmick, Nump simply glosses over his.

With all of the hype surrounding hyphy, I think Nump will prove to be its breakout star. Dude's already contributed to DJ Shadow's latest opus "The Outsider," so only time will tell if this kid actually sticks around to continue to reinvent the Yay.

[Related Links]

Nump's Myspace