DeJ Loaf knows something about hip-hop anthems. “Try Me” dominated radio waves late last summer with its infectious beat and the emcee’s undeniable charisma. She was also chosen as the face of Eminem’s “Detroit Vs. Everybody” cypher and provided the hook in her usual sing-song fashion.
As is to be expected, everyone wants a piece of DeJ, but she’s not one to let newfound fame blind her. She always recounts her humble beginnings in the city and shouts out the people who’ve been with her since day one. It’s only fitting then that she raps on Icewear Vezzo’s latest track, another budding Detroit artist trying to break through.
DeJ takes the first set of bars, coolly delivering a tight verse that covers everything from family to haters to the East Side. The glittering beat from Helluva is reminiscent of the best tracks from DeJ Loaf’s excellent Sell Sole mixtape, where her whimsical flow meshed seamlessly with the synth-heavy production from DDS.
Lest anyone forget whose song this really is, Icewear Vezzo makes sure to remind us all. In sharp contrast to the snake charmer hook from Young Money’s Shanell, Vezzo spits his verse like a steamroller without pausing to even catch a breath. Although it’s obvious that he borrows from the weirdo-rap aesthetic — a movement spearheaded by Young Thug and DeJ Loaf herself — Vezzo does seem to offer up his own mystique, swagger, and rising star power.
“They Know” will appear on Icewear Vezzo’s mixtape The Clarity 4, due out soon. Listen to the track below: