The New Bearded Face of Hip-Hop

Who the hell is Aaron Cohen? He’s a Jew from Seattle with an unbridled beard, skinny jeans and a temperament for killing old rappers.

Aaron Cohen is Hip-Hop.

“Crack,” Cohen’s much-anticipated mixtape, is one of the most complete debuts from an indie rapper in years. Packed with stolen beats, evocative samples and an eagerness to attack both competition and critics without reserve, “Crack” is the fix the headphone-fiends have been looking for – a fact he is well aware of.

Cohen’s knack for insatiable hooks, raw one-liners and witty word play qualifies “Crack” for its namesake. Neither is the origin of his own name overlooked, as “Aaron Cohen, the brother of Moses / Biblical shit you don’t bite this you quote this,” appears on “Light Up Remix.” “Light Up,” originally used by Drake, though with less aptitude, is among some of the mammoth beats Cohen used for “Crack’s” production.

The lyrical maturity exemplified by lines like, “you kids are vain / I’m ‘a’ show you what dope is” elevate Cohen to the ring as a serious contender. Cohen’s talent is not just limited to versatile rhyme schemes, but also musically as he utilizes a syncopated lyrical melody throughout the hook on “Fat” which keeps the track fresh and the listener hungry.

“Fat” also identifies the recurrent theme that it is necessary to carry music forward rather than stagger on the legs of what history has already produced. Cohen’s bold assertion that, “I’m not old school homie I’m classic / if you don’t like that than you don’t like rap” clarify his position and intentions for the genre. He unquestionably supports the past but claims that the point of new music is to be just that: new.

Cohen lets loose the brazen criticism, “Old rappers still / tellin’ old jokes / my generation just swag on you old folks,” in the crowd favorite, “Up and Down.” The track is headed by an album appropriate sample from the infamous Charlie Sheen interview with ABC News’ Andrea Canning.

The self proclaimed “Monotone Monster’s” candor persists in “Never Should Have Let Me Go” as he raps about the beats he’s stolen. “I’m givin’ old rappers flash backs / wishin’ they could back track / and take the tracks back.”

Cohen teased “Crack’s” release and boosted its anticipation with performances around Brooklyn and Manhattan over the last year. Most recently he partnered up with Harlem emcee Kyle Rapps to host a show in the Financial District’s Cin-M-Art. The impressive crowd Cohen drew alongside Rapps, whose increased notoriety earned him a spot on the Grind Time Stage at this year’s Rock The Bells, showcased the dedicated fan base he’s cultivated.

“My Town (Seattle)” is prefaced by an NBA announcer’s energy ridden broadcast of the Seattle Sonics. The track shows a pensive side of Cohen not present throughout the rest of the album as he humbly repeats, “I will never forget who my heroes are,” before his intimate hook.

For the album’s cover art Cohen commissioned a local independent artist, Jebediah Long, who painted an incredible free-form portrait of the rapper. Long portrayed Cohen with his wild beard, wearing the backwards-turned Super Sonics snap-back cap that earned a shout out in the mixtape.

Cohen’s versatility is fully appreciated towards the end of the album with “Turning & Tossing.” Ratatat’s “Loud Pipes” off their album “Classics” backs Cohen as he sings from start to finish.

“Crack” finishes strong with “Calling Me,” as Cohen commands attention with some of his finest rhymes and sharpest wit. With another jab at the past in favor for the future, he raps, “ You gotta better plan? ‘Listen I’m a veteran’ / that’s a nice way of sayin I’m old / ‘Burr,’ that’s a nice way of sayin I’m cold / put this in italics the kid is bold.”

Cohen is a true product of coast-to-coast quality in its finest form. Pay attention or miss out on history. “Crack” is currently available for a free download on SoundCloud and BandCamp.com. He can also be seen performing at Rapps’ mixtape release of “On Air” Tuesday, September 6th, at Southpaw in Brooklyn.