Scotty Rockwell, Rockwell the Ruler
Local MC Scotty Rockwell’s debut mixtape Rockwell the Ruler is as equally steeped in romantic nostalgia as it is in forward-thinking progression. It’s the personal manifesto of a larger-than-life hip-hop personality with king-sized aspirations. The Nashville rapper (who has Memphis roots) writes songs that both reflect his Inglewood upbringing and hint at where he's heading.
The mixtape also functions as a fine microcosm of many far-reaching, yet closely intertwined, influences, bringing the '90s Southern hip-hop sonics of Three 6 Mafia into the cloud-era rap of A$AP Mob and Raider Klan. For example, there’s “Yung God," a remix of Clams Casino's "I'm God" — the most definitive cloud rap instrumental of all-time, which Lil B famously turned into a based soliloquy. It’s an obvious nod to two of the release's inspirations, and a sign of the rapper's mindset.
Rockwell relies as much on mood and feeling as he does on lyrics to paint an intimate self portrait and establish his identity on the mixtape. As such, he doesn't always have to say all that much. Often, he can make his point by simply homaging influences and interpreting various styles. Nothing is regurgitated, and the aesthetic is very 2015, yet still feels familiar on this debut.
Scotty Rockwell
There aren't many wow-factor guest appearances on the mixtape, but all of the contributions are notable nonetheless. Rockwell enlists MacDonald and ThirdEyeG from BZRK for a trio of tracks, all of which display such chemistry that one might wonder if Rockwell and the BZRK boys aren't already cooking up a full-length. That wouldn't be a bad idea.
"Ice Cold Sub Zero Flow" is the grooviest of the three BZRK collabs. Guest singer Juice provides smooth harmonies and background vocals for Rockwell's and MacDonald's verses, in addition to dueting with Rockwell over a sleazed-out beat that plays like a long-forgotten OutKast outtake. There’s also "Gold Uzi", a low-key blunted track that, also including MacDonald, climaxes with a murderous hook — "bout to catch a homi off the nigga right beside me.” Another BZRK-boasting cut — “Scott’s Torch” — features ThirdEyeG and sounds like The X-Files theme meets Mystik Styles. On “The Holy 615," Rockwell comes across like a Music City messiah transforming Nashville into a hip-hop mecca. Dozier also makes an appearance, with a memorable guest verse high on energy and bravado.
Scotty Rockwell sounds like a true “master of ceremonies” on Rockwell the Ruler. There’s a quality balance of autobiographical and universal on RTR, as well as urgency and youthful energy. The features aren’t lacking, but they don’t dominate. His collaborators only enrich the universe that he creates for the listener, one which he commands as almighty ruler.
