Don Trip’s latest single “Wake Up” was released
the other week with minimal fanfare. Along with Starlito and Kevin Gates, he’s
one of several young artists that dispels the conservative rap coalition’s
claim that rap isn’t lyrical anymore. Like the aforementioned MCs, Don Trip
also hasn’t fully made an impact with the kids. Despite appearing on the 2012
XXL Freshman cover and working with Dr “iRich” Dre, mainstream success eludes
him for now. Luckily, this means we get to enjoy unfiltered street rhymes while
bubble-gum rap fans are busy debating if Iggy Azalea writes her own music. This
is an obvious blessing and the Memphis rapper has delivered a hustler’s
dedication with bars upon bars.
“Wake
Up” serves as both a motivational anthem and a forewarning for those who were
sleeping on Mr Don Trip. The 26 year old spits over frantic production and
sticks with his grimy drawl rather than jacking the Migos flow as per almost
everyone else in the past year. The track’s hook sounds elementary on paper
“wake up, wake up, it’s time to get me some money, got to get off my ass, you
can’t get rich for me,” but it’s catchiness combined with the adrenaline
pumping beat makes for wall-punching music. There’s not much here beyond
moneymaking metaphors, but sometimes we all need a song you can frown and nod
to. Now how about releasing that Step Brothers 3?