Last year, I came across Boston rapper Cousin Stizz through his “No Bells” music video, and was instantly hooked. “No Bells” is still one of the very best songs of 2015, and the mixtape it came off of, Suffolk County, was one my favorite mixtapes of last year. It’s chock-full of laid-back, uber-charismatic weed rap that’s perfect for long car rides and moments of positive self-reflection. It is with great pleasure, then, that I can say that he’s topped his debut with the follow up, MONDA. Featuring a more developed, unique flow from Stizz to go along with stronger and more varied production from up-and-comers Lil Rich, Dumdrumz and Tee-WaTT as well as Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and Drake collaborator Cardo, MONDA is consistently quality throughout, with highlights scattered across the entirety of the 14-song tracklist. “500 Horses” does 2015 Drake better than 2015 Drake did 2015 Drake, “Gain Green” may be the wooziest song to ever motivate you, and “Big Fella” takes a gorgeous, soul-sampled beat and pairs it with Stizz’s best verses to date, making it a serious contender for 2016’s best rap song. With the constant flow of rap music stuffing the Internet every day, it can be hard to see what is truly worth it. Which is why it’s so important for Cousin Stizz to be supported, and why you need to go and listen to his mixtape. His music is not indebted to trends or waves; it is built for listening today, tomorrow and ten years from now. MONDA is only a few weeks old, but it feels and sounds built to last. Stream MONDA below and download it here.
