Alabama rapper
Nocap came up as one of the more notable voices in a crop of artists who found a delivery somewhere between emotive rapping and pained, melodic singing. His 2019 single "Ghetto Angels" became both a viral hit and a calling card for
Nocap's unique stylistic approach, putting him on the map as a rising talent. The 16-track mixtape
Steel Human comes in a succession of quickly released projects, each of which sees the rapper taking his sound to new levels of energy and innovation. The production is strong across the board, with interesting flourishes of classical guitar giving "Overtime" a unique character and multiple songs such as the
Lil Uzi Vert-featuring "Count a Million" relying on the melancholic piano loops that many singer/rappers like
Nocap base their music on. What sets
Nocap apart from his peers (and what shines more than ever on
Steel Human) are his versatile and quick-switching melodies and his multifaceted lyrical prowess. Where other rappers of his ilk hover steadily around generalized themes of pain and struggle,
Nocap's accounts of time in jail, in court, or hustling in the street are laced with vulnerability and emotional complexity. "Gangsta Cryin'" zeroes in on some of the less glamorous realities of living outside the law, with a humanizing rawness that's rare for most lyricists. He effortlessly moves from songs of struggle and loss like "Lean on Me" to high-energy, high-humor flexes like the swag-heavy "Instagram Models." Every song explores different flows, wordplay, and specific subject matter, making
Steel Human the strongest and most emotionally intricate example of
Nocap's promise to date. ~ Fred Thomas