SCRAPYARD

A uniquely experimental mixtape from LA rapper and Youtuber Benjamin Lasky, better known as Quadeca.

Quadeca, SCRAPYARD (2024)

Quadeca first garnered attention on YouTube around a decade ago and has done free styles, his widely viewed videos rapping in the styles of other artists, and generally anything rap and music related. He has been involved with a plethora of music and video collabs, and even had a beef with Popular Youtuber and rapper KSI. While he has amassed a significant following on the video platform, he has been striving to move away from the umbrella term of a 'YouTube Rapper' for a while now, due to the disdain towards the moniker, and the overall lack of authenticity among a large amount of YouTube rappers felt by the rap and music scene. Benjamin had grown into his own experimental sound and gained wide praise for his concept album I Didn't Mean To Haunt You, solidifying himself in the legitimate rap scene in peoples eyes, but with his new mixtape SCRAPYARD, Ben has become one of the most exciting new artists, not just in the rap scene, but in the larger contemporary music scene in and of itself, incorporating elements of rap, Indie, and shoegaze, among other genres.

The mixtape starts of with the song DUSTCUTTER, which is an ethereal sounding piece, including some really cool layered vocals and distorted instrumentals and production pulled out of 90's gaze music, which works well as an introduction for the larger project, before the song transitions to one of the stand outs on the album, A LA CARTE. A unique song including some traditional rapping, and some unique singing from Quadeca, the first thing that really stands out to me on these first two tracks, Quadeca does not have some crazy vocal range or a haunting voice, but rather he sound unpolished and raw, but with the phenomenal production and style behind it, the vocals work so well within the context of these songs, and the rest of the larger project, and adds to Quadeca's unique sound. It contrasts so well with featuring artist Brakence on the second song, which follows the idea's of emotional detachment or individuality while in a relationship, or taking elements "a la carte". The next song, PPRETTY PRIVILEGE, brings back the elements of gaze and indie music. An emotional and introspective song about the nuances of ones own self perception, and perception from others, and is one of my favorites on the album, the song's opening chorus has a beautiful melody and instrumentals, the structure of the song is unique with short verses, the chorus returning, but only part of it, and ending by fading into an impressive and production focused minute long instrumental outro. Next is the song EASIER, a melancholy song about the Idea of being in a relationship, not out of love, but a fear of being alone. The song opens with beautiful piano and violin instrumentals, before brining in acoustic guitar and singing. It's a much more singer songwriter style indie-pop piece than anything else, and it's on this song in my opinion where the mixtape formula really shows how well it works here, whereas most albums will follow a certain style or sound, or revolves around certain concepts or themes, the disjointed nature of the mixtape format works here, allowing for more experimentation and varying sound as the project ebbs and flows through various sounds and genres from song to song, and it can be seen across the next songs, with the thumping beats of exciting hip hop and electronica banger EVEN IF I TRIED, the somber alternative and indie rock influenced song WHAT'S IT TO HIM?, and the alternative hip hop song U DON'T KNOW ME LIKE THAT, which even includes some interesting pitch shifted vocals reminiscent of some modern hyperpop artists.

The sound returns to a more traditional rap music on the song I MAKE IT LOOK EFFORTLESS, a self boasting hip hop song that's only flaw is that it's too short, with a runtime of only a minute seven seconds, it feels like an idea that was never quite fully fleshed out, which given the nature of mixtapes, could very well be the case. Next is another one of the major standouts, WAY TOO MANY FRIENDS. A song seemingly about the issues of not being able to follow through and maintain relationships with everyone as we go through our lives. It has some of the most impressive and heartfelt traditional rapping across the whole album.

"Stop calling my bluff if you wanna make amends

Don't call you enough, not as much as I intend

I-I don't say it enough, but I'll thank you in the end

Might delay a few events on the day it just depends

I got way too many friends, I got way too many friends"

Behind the lyrics is a very classic hip hop beat and some soft guitar work before ending on some great group vocals. Next up is GUESS WHO, a trap influenced song sounding a bit like early Soundcloud rap with some thumping 808s and some glitchy synth work thrown in to keep you on your toes. The project has a few of the more experimental tracks, with the Indie ballad UNDER MY SKIN, and the track BEING YOURSLEF, an alternative pop and trip hop song in the vain of artists like Joji. Next is easily the weirdest moment across the album, U TRIED THAT THING WHERE UR HUMAN, it is an uncomfortable listen that is amazingly produced and emotionally poignant song, but meanders for a bit, and with a run time at almost five minutes, and having fairly minimalistic vocals, it goes on for a bit longer than you might like. It's weird and definitely experimental, but more than anything, it shows a willingness for Ben to push his own boundaries musically and experiment with some interesting and unique styles, that with a little bit of polish, can create some really great and unique music, Next is my personal favorite on SCRAPYARD, the song GUIDE DOG. It's a stripped back acoustic ballad about being there for someone, and being a guiding force in their life. The acoustic guitar on this is relatively simple, but Ben's instrumentals and production techniques make the simple guitar work sound really damn good, and it includes what is probably some of his best traditional singing. It is truly a lovely moment that helps end the album on a high note, before fading out into the closing track on the album, TEXAS BLUE, a beautiful alternative rap song featuring Kevin Abstract, about the highs and lows of relationships, played simply over piano for a minute before bringing in a much more complex instrumental composition. It's another standout track that perfectly closes out a modern masterpiece through and through.

In my opinion, Quadeca has already proven himself to be more than just a 'YouTube rapper' time and time again, but with the conclusion of the SCRAPYARD series, Ben has honestly cemented himself as one of the most exciting artists in contemporary music. This mixtape is filled with so many unique moments, and a little bit of everything, and has something for everyone, creating a beautifully disjointed piece of art, Already a guaranteed contender for album of the year for me,

9.5/10