Detroit’s Doughboyz Cashout has been one of the best new finds of my music year, combining timeless g-funk beats with loquacious, swaggering bars. In a hip-hop scene increasingly driven by druggy production and #sadboi MCs like Drake and Future, the group’s energy, directness, and overall good vibes are extremely welcome. Though there are palpable traces of Bay Area swag, LA soul, and New Orleans/Atlanta late 90’s snap, their potent sonic stew is all their own.
Though they’ve endured a long road to fame (they formed in ’06), it looks like they’re finally set to blow, signing to (Young) Jeezy’s CTE Records. Here are five of the DBCO tracks that helped soundtrack my summer.
Payroll Giovanni: “Get Money Regardless” (Digital Single)
To my ears, Payroll Giovanni’s slick flow is reminiscent of the mid 90’s California artists that I grew up with, namely Rappin’ 4-Tay. That buoyant, effortless delivery (think: a vocal Bradley Beal 20-footer) is on full display here with Giovanni sliding through twinkling keys and a soulful vocal hook to devastating effect.
Big Quis: “Mayweather” (f/ Payroll Giovanni) (on My Turn)
On this, one of the group’s most anthemic tracks, Giovanni and the ravenous Big Quis turn their swag up to Money Mayweather levels here. Quis’ aggressive flow is an excellent foil to Giovanni’s laid back demeanor, and their vocal synergy is masterfully framed by a swirling arrangement and an adhesive hook. This should have been one of the songs of the summer.
Doughboy Roc: “Letter to My Ol’ Dude” (on Beastmode)
While DBCO is better known for their party tracks, they are far from one-dimensional, and Doughboy Roc’s heartfelt ode to his late father shows that. Over rolling high-hats and a faraway guitar line, Roc touches on loss, fatherhood, incarceration, and family articulately and honestly.
Payroll Giovanni: “My First 10” (on Get Money Stay Humble)
One of my favorite Giovanni tracks, “My First 10” chronicles his early education in the drug business. Carrying both a nostalgic and cautionary spirit, it highlights Giovanni’s storytelling chops and ear for a melody. Though it feels like a throwback to the tasty 90s sound, it simultaneously feels current and fresh.
Doughboyz Cashout: “Da Mob” (on Free Roc)
One of their early hits (2012), “Da Mob” shows both how far they’ve come as a group and how long they’ve been at it. There’s nothing like a crew single, and we get verses from eight different MCs who all bring something a little different to the table.
