On “High Rollers,” first-wave electroclash icon Tiga adopts the on-mic persona of an ’80s rap MC—he cites Ice-T as inspiration—to talk about how greed is, once again, good. Over a skronking acid house beat, his retro-swagging high rollers strut “eel-skin boots” to Curtis Mayfield’s “Pusherman” and check their beepers for “big-time deals.” He’s rapping so fast you might not even hear who he’s really talking about: “These high-ranked officials of our city streets/Make millions all triggered by electric beeps.” (Nancy Pelosi, that you?)
There are several songs I like on Tiga’s new album, HOTLIFE, like “Silk Scarf” with Fcukers, sort of an arch take on Charli XCX’s “Guess” for menswear, or the freaks-only rave-up “Sexless Pornographic Losers,” with fellow Montreal DJ Maara. But I haven’t worn out a song like this since Two Shell did that demented sped-up MUNA remix, which should tell you exactly what kind of sick and twisted humor I’m looking for in a bassline. Ultimately, this track reminds me of a 1992 Los Angeles riots era poster by feminist art collective Guerrilla Girls that reads, “THESE WHITE MEN HAVE BEEN VIDEOTAPED LOOTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: George Bush… Jerry Falwell… Clarence Thomas… Ronald Reagan.” Hate the players, hate the game—but I do love this song.
