One of the most beautiful things about rap today is how far the genre’s grown from its origins. Hip-hop purists may forever criticize the change in style, delivery, and sound that contemporary rap records incorporate, but more analytical listeners may realize that today’s productions are merely evidence of how much the genre has evolved and continues to gain in universal influence.

Mondo the Moonrock is a unique manifestation of this notion; a Cleveland native who first migrated west—and now south—in search of both creative and personal fulfillment—his story is far from ordinary, and his unorthodox music reflects that.

“2 Days from Yesterday” is a moody, existential cut from his most recent project, Mistake from the Lake. Its chilly, downtempo production and Mondo’s minimalist, Marilyn Manson-esque vocal delivery paint an anomalous picture of uncertainty, anxiety, and introspection.

“The record is really just an existential analysis of my days in Los Angeles, when I was about a year and a half into my journey from Cleveland,” Mondo says. “[It’s] really me just being hopeful about what tomorrow will bring. I’m looking at the potential heights that my life can reach, the choices that I’m making and the repercussions of them. My life had changed a lot in both directions; I’d moved to LA and things were looking up for me, but at the same time I had become so far removed from the things I had grown up knowing. On the surface everything seems cool, but is this lifestyle sustainable?”

While the record’s composition evokes thoughts of a metronome ticking toward a major revelation, the accompanying video utilizes more symbolic elements to communicate its message. Set between Beverly Hills and Malibu, visual elements revolve around dark, muted scenes of the ocean, beach, and mountains, balanced by tight shots of Mondo swaying and posing in darkness. Choosing to emphasize the isolation and darkness of a location that most would consider paradise, Mondo exposes his innermost conflict—a contradiction between feeling accomplished and successful on the surface, yet alone and disconnected deep down.

Watch/listen above.

More Info
Facebook: @mondothemoonrock
Instagram: @Earth2Mondo
SoundCloud: @mondothemoonrock
Twitter: @Earth2Mondo