One of the best hip-hop acts to surface in recent years, the Baltimore crew Spank Rock lays fun, over-the-top raps atop a mix of '80s-influenced electronic beats. Street-smart but beach-friendly, "Sweet Talk" combines the greasy production of British grime with abundant samples and the hedonistic playfulness that helped make stars of The Beastie Boys.
Spank Rocks members describe themselves as American kids ripping off European kids ripping off American hip-hop. Its hard to argue that description, but Sweet Talk transcends the boundaries of its genre: Its one of the catchiest, most exhilarating songs released this year, hip-hop or otherwise.
Sonically inventive and lyrically outrageous -- the clean version here is a whole lot more radio-friendly than its unedited counterpart -- Sweet Talk hearkens back to the lovable likes of De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. In the end, it aspires to little more than packing dance floors, but it accomplishes that goal with good humor and great style.
Listen to yesterday's 'Song of the Day.'
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