Preview

It's frustratingly short, but Chiddy Bang's aboveground debut EP The Preview liberates them from the underground, giving those who aren't mixtape friendly a taste of their infectious indie-rock-meets-hip-hop style. Best example is the vibrant "Opposite of Adults," a MGMT-sampling monster of a cut where rapper Chidera "Chiddy" Anamege -- the "Skinny dude but with the flow the size of Ving Rhames" -- revives hip-hop's old-school flavor with smart lines and a rapid delivery. Nearly as excellent is "Truth" which, in Kanye West style, pitches up Passion Pit's "Better Things" for its rave-rap backbeat. When Darwin Deez provides the hook for "Bad Day," the great indie-hop Trifecta is complete, but Chiddy Bang shouldn't be pigeonholed as simple genre mixers. The great worth of their material comes from Anamege's high-caliber positive rhymes and beatmaker Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin's endless pool of good ideas and great hooks, as every clever sample gives way to choruses that stick. Add it up and there is a high replay value, making this teaser's short run-time much easier to accept. ~ David Jeffries