Indie artist Grabba has a flow that’s a bit unorthodox, as it feels like a mix of Lil B and Earl Sweatshirt–with a bit of BossMan Dlow in there for the sheer hell of it. What we get in his new songs “SWAMP STORIEZ” and “RESTORATION” is simple. Beatwise, both instrumentals are airy and moody beats that feel equally parts “boombap rappity rap” and “mood muzik.” What that means is that both opt to fixate on the basics of rap beats and the things that make rap unique. Neither song really has a heavy drum pattern, instead opting for the melody to be the centerpiece on each instrumental.

Flow-and-bar-wise, listeners can expect lyrics and schemes that are easy to follow but deeper in their wording and phrasing. That’s where the Lil B meets Earl comparison comes back into play, as both songs are lo-fi AF. That works exceptionally well here. That’s because along with that intimate “I’m recording this while you’re in the room with me” feel, the bars engage you at a rapper’s favorite rapper level. Even if the bars don’t always contain multiple multisyllabic schemes throughout, they’re intricate. That straightforward-ish approach to music is what grabbed me, no pun intended.

Both of these tracks appear on Grabba’s Voodoo project, which released earlier this month (three weeks ago exactly). It’s one of those projects that doesn’t have lofty expectations attached…but presents and accomplishes pretty lofty goals. I almost passed on these, specifically due to my inability to write frequently these days. But after seeing where the album proper went, I had to revisit these and give my two-and-a-half cents. If you want some off-kilter hip-hop that still manages to check many “rap nerd” boxes, these two are for you. Check them out below and support dope music in all its forms.