In the fall, Austin, TX hip-hop duo Magna Carda will release their latest EP. First, we get a taste of the content with “Cowboy.” A group dedicated to music “rooted in freedom of expression and Black liberation,” “Cowboy” continues this mindset. How, you ask? It does so by blending conscious, bar-heavy lyrics with the imagery of the truthful ones in hip-hop. The end result is a feelgood song ’90s-esque song about being the last line of defense against racists, culture-vultures and the like. Think Method Man meets rap a bit more experimental and you’ll have MC.

“Cowboy” also features Magna Carda speaking on the plight many artists take while balancing “holding tight to our culture of hip-hop and our musical roots.” After all, a healthy helping of music out there today in the US (and abroad) has been influenced by Black artists. The concept boils down to this: the duo are cowboys in the wild west of 2020s music, trying to keep the peace while also showing they are not the one(s) to eff with.

The rapper, like the cowboy, is an integral part of American history–specifically Black history. Specifically, both have created tales (and lived lives) that have been interwoven into the very fabric of this country. If you’re intrigued by what I’ve written, I think you know what to do. You need to hit that “play” button and support dope music in all its forms.