New York City Artist Dontaé Releases Intriguing New Video
Since New York is considered the birthplace of hip-hop, it’s artists are usually categorized into very distinct & stereotypical boxes. When you hear “New York rap” you may think of boom-bap sounds, akin to upstate powerhouse Griselda Records. Or maybe you think more contemporary; like the unmistakeable drill wave rising out of Brooklyn, or the melody-based style coming from Bronx artists (ex: A Boogie, Lil Tjay, 645AR). The best thing about our newcomer Dontaé & his new video “Friends”, is his brand of “New York rap” is completely his own, and reflects a different side of the big apple’s offering to hip-hop culture in 2020. It’s bouncy, it’s catchy, and yet it’s still hard as ever.
Set to bright yet heart thumping production, the song pulls you in out the gate. Dontaé wastes no time showcasing that he has enough flow and wordplay to make hits with the best of them. With clever one liners and a knack for connecting with the audience, he gives us enough IG caption quotables to last the summer.
“Know some niggas that all they know is swipe like tinder”
&
“I don’t do no stand-up, meaning this shit aint a joke”,
He raps in perfect timing, making sure to highlight every bar as if it’s the thesis of the song. In every line you hear his confidence reaffirmed, justifiably, as he honestly inspired more than one “stank face” from me (the kind that only hip-hop heads understand). The Common Courtesy video is just as dynamic, as Dontaé and his friends wheelie & race ATVs and stand atop tractors under a graffiti clad bridge. As verses shift, so does the scenery from day to night as the edits also shift to accommodate the viewers interest. Altogether, Dontaé and Common Courtesy were able to hold my attention through the duration of the entire visual, which is more than I can say about a lot of artists, even in the industry.
“Friends” is a perfect introduction to our new favorite out of NYC. Watch the video above, and keep a look out for more new music from Dontaé, which you can probably find here on VeryBad in the coming months.
