After making serious noise in the modern funk scene, XL Middleton makes a return to the g-funk/hip hop sound that marked his earlier work with the single “Cool Minute.” It’s a funked out, synth-heavy rap song with an equal amount of appeal for the modern funk world or the underground legions of g-funk fans that put XL on the map originally. Those familiar with his most recent albums, “Tap Water” and “Things Are Happening,” will recognize the signature synth leads and intricate analog bass lines. Those unfamiliar with Middleton as an MC will find that he challenges standards in the worlds of both underground and mainstream rap, eschewing the backpack as much as the Bentley, falling into a space that few can. XL’s lyricism is cerebral and well-read, yet it’s clear that he comes from a part of the world that relishes khakis, Chuck Taylors & Zapp records.
