By Ahmad Awadallah

There is always something peculiar and addictive about rappers from Virginia. Everyone from Missy Elliot, to the Clipse to Skillz all have their own swagger and style. Newcomer Phil the Thrill exemplifies this to the 10^th power. On his new EP, Distinguished Reject, Phil shows his versatility by flowing over original production, a TLC classic and a Coldplay standard.

The 22-year old is definitely part of the new breed of rappers, including Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, J. Cole, and Mac Miller, that refuse to glorify gang life and hustling on the cold streets. The difference between Phil and the rappers listed is undoubtedly his varied style to jump from serious issues, ladies, and lighthearted raps.

The album starts off running with Phil spitting off the dome on “Summerkid Freestyle.” The Mac Miller instrumental gets ripped apart by the Virginian rapper’s in-synch flow and his ability to make you reminisce about the past with his bubbly wordplay. “Wish I was a kid again/Swimming pools/chasing girls/not a worry in the world,” bars as simple and concrete as that make you yearn to relive past memories.

Probably the best song on the record is the track, “90 ish,” which Phil ceaselessly raps over the TLC classic, “Creep.” Tracks like that are hallowed grounds and if you touch them, you better come correct.  Phil shows his confidence and unique panache on the track and his ability to sketch pictures of the past is evident again, when his spits, “I got my high-top fade/rock a pair of J’s/’bout to take it back to the early ‘90 days.” It would have been nice to hear him rap longer than two-half minutes because he was getting busy.

Phil puts the hammer down on Coldplay’s “X&Y.” Chris Martin’s voice is raised beyond recognition and the Coldplay lyrics, “Trying hard to speak/and fighting with my weak hand/driven to distraction so part of the plan,” are looped on the track “Exhale.” Phil took a break from spitting about women and childhood memories and chose to share his goals for the rap game and the harsh realities of trying to stand out in such a crowded field. The somber beat and the gloomy Coldplay lyrics synch flawlessly with Phil’s serious subject matter.

The album is a concise piece of work comprised of only 8-songs, each two minutes in length. The lack of extensiveness is somewhat understandable, because the Newport News rapper is planning to release an EP every month for the rest of the year, and may want the people craving more by just offering appetizers. If the main course is anything like this we’re in for a thrill.

Out of 5

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