Look, I don’t know much about Tez McClain. But a cursory examination of his SoundCloud profile clues me in on a couple of critical facts. First, it’s been seven months since his last release, a five-song EP called Dopamine he created in collaboration with producer LT-Moe. Since that time, he’s released a steady stream of singles, demonstrating that the dude isn’t afraid of putting in work. Second, two years ago he dropped a cut called “Showtime,” which featured the legendary Scarface from Geto Boys. To me, that’s a strong indicator the man has at least a semblance of talent and can spit some bars. So what’s the scoop?

Released two months ago, “Hurry Up and Buy” is a fiery banger with a sinister beat courtesy of producer J. Sky. There’s some definite Dirty South grime lurking in the cut, but for the most part the track eschews regional accents for a more universal approach. Meanwhile, McClain and his cohorts, Big A Prado and Kege deMorrow, take turns skewering the cycles of violence and social injustice that plague our nation while also taking aim at the crass materialism that enslaves us to debt and exacerbates class divisions. For all the imaginative wordplay that takes place, there’s a somber, sobering cynicism lurking in the heart of the track, a feeling of deep anger and resignation that’s articulated in the track’s terse chorus:

That bullshit you hurry up and buy,
That propaganda you hurry up and buy
That self-hate you hurry up and buy
Old tricks you hurry up and buy
Black Friday y’all hurry up and buy
iSixes you hurry up and buy
Them new J’s you hurry up and buy
New slaves y’all hurry up and buy

The attitude here is fierce, the tone accusatory. So much so it’s hard to tell whether McClain wants us to storm the streets in protest or whether he’s just saying his piece and walking off in a cloud of cold anger and frustration — to hell with rest of us. Either way it’s a bold statement, as smart as it is menacing. Tez McClain may still be a mystery, but “Hurry Up and Buy” proves he’s one well worth exploring. Listen below.

More Info
Facebook: @TezMcClain
SoundCloud: @tezmcclain
Twitter: @tezmcclain