RUS 10 is a rap artist out of Chattanooga TN. His major influences are Tech N9ne, Rittz, Mos Def, Eminem, Nas, Wrekonize, Atmosphere, Mayday, Ces Cru, and Action Bronson. “I focus more on lyrics,” says RUS 10, “because I feel that good beats will only take you so far and I have a lot to say.”
I ran into RUS 10’s single, “Phenom (Produced By CMPLX)” on Soundcloud, and discovered it delivered even more than I was expecting. The track is razor-sharp and heartfelt, showing the audacious, confrontational side of this multi-talented rapper. What follows on the rest the of tracks in his catalog is filled with great hooks, intricately styled lyrics and a sound you would only expect from a major label team. RUS 10 will almost certainly be a successful rapper of consequence. All he needs to do is keeps up his high level of writing, production and storytelling through his songs.
It’s rare that someone this talented gets their shot to shine, considering the drivel that is allowed to pass off as successful rap. However I get the feeling that RUS 10 is pretty much aware of this, as his tone of voice says as much. That said, if anyone deserves a shot, it’s this dude!
He brings great productions, great lyrics, and one sick flow that I guarantee you won’t hear anywhere else. His rapping style is as close to perfection as you can come, while his material is securely based on three important factors; self-expression, relatable themes and connecting with the audience -which is ultimately what being a true artist is all about!
Now that’s not to say every single person is going to feel RUS 10 style (especially if you like that bling, bling stuff!), but to me his songs are near perfect. There are no bad songs or even okay songs in his catalog. Every song is outstanding. RUS 10 has a quick-silver rapping style that is focused on supersonic syllables and sometimes you may have to hit replay to catch exactly what he said. It’s not that you’re too slow…he’s just too fast!
Three songs totally blew me away – “Fire In The Booth”, “Lean Back With It” and “Inner Demons”. Just straight fire! You can feel the passion this guy has for his craft as he deals out lyricism and flow, with none of the gimmicks that plague mainstream radio rap/hip-hop. The last time I was this excited after hearing a rapper for the first time was back in 1999, on listening to “The Slim Shady LP”!
I hate drawing comparisons, especially between a relative newcomer and a legendary rapper like Eminem who has sold over 155 million albums and singles, but the similarities between the two, do exist. They both court controversy by expressing themselves in a shockingly honest way, no holds barred! And they both do things with beats and rhymes that I have never heard anyone else do.
Again, they are united by three words in their rapping style – fearlessness, boldness, and complete dedication to individualism. “Be who you are,” could perfectly fit a RUS 10 motto. Moreover, and without intending to be irreverent or disrespectful in any way, I firmly believe that RUS 10 possesses a more rapid-fire flow than Eminem does.
RUS 10 is a breath of fresh air in an industry that’s capitalized by over-used beats and weak lyrics. It’s encouraging to hear someone with real talent. His lyrics, speed, and flow are unmistakable, and unparalleled to my mind. It’s not fair that anyone with this amount of talent isn’t making the kind of money, or achieving the kind of popularity that mainstream rappers are. I guess RUS 10 is too real for the American public!
OFFICIAL LINKS: SOUNDCLOUD – FACEBOOK – TWITTER
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