Wax and DJ Hoppa, K.A.A.N.

Thursday, July 16 · 7th St Entry

★ racket - The rap underground is bustling with talented journeymen. One of them, the L.A. rapper Wax teamed up with DJ Hoppa for a playful throwback rap record, Highway Hotel, laced with lyrics like, “My podiatrist and your proctologist? Same guy.” With a nimble gallop of a delivery, Maryland-born, L.A.-based K.A.A.N. is even better. He's been kicking around for close to two decades, but he really found his footing on the 2024 album Kaancepts. "Nobody in rap says shit anymore, like, they just mumble,” he raps. And before you can even groan “Oh, great, one of those guys,” he adds a self-deprecating if not entirely accurate "including myself."