How much longer until the next SoundCloud trend is rapping on dead air? Already approaching that logical end point is Birmingham’s 22, who on an EP titled ; (he obviously doesn’t give a damn about SEO) underlines wintertime isolation with a selection of ambient beats that are like sleepwalking through a misty water sprinkler. My personal favorite is the glacial, Makkgin-produced “How Shit Go,” which is barely there, only given a sense of rhythm by the sporadic beeps and jerking hi-hats. Its hypnotic effect draws you closer to 22’s glazed ramblings and drained lip flaps—an uncomfortably raw listen that feels as invasive as some Lil Peep mixtape cuts and Veeze leaks. While viral underground rap keeps turning up the volume, music that doesn’t sound like much of anything speaks to a world where so many people are looking to be numbed from reality.
