I’ve listened to the music created by Anthony Lawson Jude Ifeanyichukwu Obiawunaotu for about a decade now. From the very beginning of his career, he’s always pushed the boundaries of what Houston rap should and could sound like. It’s not that he tried to avoid those sounds – the man still reps for the city no matter where he might currently live – but more that he actively aspired to bust up preconceived notions about hip-hop from his hometown.
To put it another way: Fat Tony is what happens when you first combine equal amounts of UGK, The Ramones, Too Short, and The Smiths and then infuse the mixture with a healthy portion of experiential wanderlust.
The man is an absolute creative dynamo who approaches his work with intense focus and unbridled energy. Not only is he a talented writer, musician, and wordsmith, but he’s an excellent DJ, party-thrower, and television host. That’s right – if you didn’t see his short-lived Thrift Haul on Super Deluxe, you missed a fun competition show with a clever concept and engaging guests.
Simply put, I’ve been a big fan of the man’s entire approach to life for many years now, so I’m always excited to hear any new music he creates. And on Wake Up, his brand-new collaboration with producer Taydex for Carpark Records, he’s graced the world with nine stellar songs bursting with brash energy. The album serves as an excellent slice of modern in-your-face hip-hop, but it’s the strong punk rock undercurrent that gives the music its true personality.
Running counter to contemporary mumble-rap, it’s refreshing to actually hear Fat Tony’s lyrics, especially since he’s always been an artist who has something to say. There’s verbiage aplenty as he holds court on events both street level and international in scope:
- Strength of character (using AOC as a key example)
- Rags to riches stories
- Boasts about his success
- Recipes for beloved dishes
- Life on tour
- Getting rid of bad influences in your life
- Pursuing your dreams
Yet, for all of the waxing poetic and lyrical prowess, the verses themselves are tightly wound works of art. Like any good poet, Fat Tony understands the importance of being economic with his words. When you’re a party rapper with a big heart and punk aesthetic, it’s essential that you know how to get your point across with both efficiency and maximum impact. It also helps that he’s always had a penchant for dropping relevant pop cultural references that don’t feel dated upon later listens.
Obviously, I would be more than remiss if I didn’t give Taydex his due. His penchant for strong 808 snares, tight hi-hats, and ‘90s R&B-influenced keyboard bursts serve as the sturdy foundation for Fat Tony’s rhyme schemes. I’m enamored with how Taydex weaves together warmly bass lines, guitar riffs, saxophone samples, and classic vinyl scratches to create bouncing grooves that are proletarian without feeling cheap or cliched.
Additionally, the R&B vocal hooks enhance the overall vintage flavor and tone of the project, even as the content flips the script on what such guest spots should achieve. Standout tracks like “Get Out of My Way, “Big Ego,” “Cut That,” and “Make It” showcase a symbiotic relationship between rapper and producer that you typically find in artists with very long track records of success.
Wake Up reflects Fat Tony’s diverse artistic palate and widespread travels, while production from Taydex feels both familiar and forward-thinking. Fans of Bun B and Z-Ro will find purchase with those who love the avant-garde sounds of Tierra Whack, Rico Nasty, and B L A C K I E. These are short songs that pack a very big punch, and while substance does defeat style, this album is bursting at the seams with style.
This is globe-trotting hip-hop at its finest. Sharp, big-hearted, and bursting with ideas, it’s the kind of music people make when you aren’t afraid to pursue your creative imagination and see where it takes you. Fat Tony has delivered another gem.