Love thy neighbor, fuck thy hater.

At first glance George Watsky does not look like your stereotypical rapper, but he is a true master of the spoken word and a gifted lyricist. The 27 year old “pale kid” from San Fransisco is an up and coming lyrical rapper who has put out a great variation of songs often catecorized as folk-rap-hiphop.

He gained public recognition for his skills back in 2006 and more recently made a YouTube breakthrough to the bigger audience and press with the song “Pale kid raps fast”, where he (as the title suggests) raps fast over a Busta Rhymes beat. This is how the public met this pale, thin self-deprecating, lisping Jew (on his fathers side) who doesn’t need an emcee name: Watsky.

When trying to describe Watsky’s music I struggled finding the right word, but then suddenly I found the right it: LIFE. He raps about life, both his own life and life in general. His music is relatable, down-to-earth and definitely concerned with the highs and lows of life. For example about how first times are always better; that he doesn’t care what other people think about him and that life is about loving the people that care about you:
“Love thy neighbor, fuck thy hater.”
Some songs are a bit shallow and just fun, whereas other songs make you contemplate the big questions in life.

He draws his inspirations from personal experiences, both good and bad. He writes about things that are close to his heart, varying from his family and friends to thinking about what the meaning of life is.
“It’s not that I don’t wanna start shit, but I don’t wanna start shit unless it’s where my heart sits”
He isn’t afraid of using nostalgic references, and often refers to the simplicity of life as a kid, where you could have all the fun in the world with just a cardboard box, some shoestring and tin foil.

Watsky has so far released several mixtapes and three studio albums, of which the last one was released in March of this year and was called: Cardboard castles.
Cardboard castles is one of those albums on which all the songs are actually great songs, with subjects varying from childhood memories to not wanting to be a hipster (by which he kinda becomes a hipster). Personally I think it is one of the better albums of 2013.

Currently Watsky is doing what he does best, touring around the world to transfer his energy though his lyrics and live performance to everyone who is interested in it. Right now he is touring together with Wax (known for his hit song: Rosana) and a live band in the “Hug a hater” tour. They will visit lots of places in the U.S. and Europe and I’d really recommend going to a live show as it makes you float 3 inches above the pavement when you walk home! The energy is great and the performance is even better than the studio albums.

 
– The Biologist