Matthew Craig Is Lighting A Fire With The Fierce ‘Cream Of The Crop
Matthew Craig. Photo supplied.
Melbourne rapper Matthew Craig has never been one to pull his punches. His latest single, Cream Of The Crop, sees him calling out Australian rappers, trying to create a situation similar to what American hip-hop experienced when Kendrick Lamar dropped his verse on Big Sean’s Control. It’s a two-minute burst of haymakers that’d make any professional boxer blush, and it’s a reminder of the talent on offer in Melbourne.
2020’s been a hard year for Victorian artists, but Matthew was determined to make the most of it. He’s been busy working on a new mixtape, turning his frustrations at being unable to hit the studio and work with other artists into his most inspired music yet. Matthew’s not afraid to flex his involvement in the growth of hip-hop in Australia, and this track is his victory lap.
Speaking about the track, Matthew says it’s a reflection of the year 2020’s been, and the work he’s been able to put in while in lockdown. “During lockdown I pretty much penned a whole mixtape and Cream of the Crop is just the first taste of that. I wanna put the focus back on lyricism, on bars, on the art of rap. The sonics are dope right now in Australia but the pen game is still a bit off. Too much filler. I’m tryina help raise the standard. Make every line count type shit.”
The track’s production comes courtesy of JUJO, and it’s reminiscent of 90s hip-hop. Rather than trying to embrace the latest trend in rap, Matt’s throwing back to his favourite era in the genre and pulling it off with ease. Spitting over rattling drums that form the basis of the song’s gritty production, Matthew is paying homage to those that came before him - and urging his peers to step it up.
READ MORE: Thursday Sessions - 17th of December
Check out Cream Of The Crop below. Matthew is gearing up to release a project in early 2021, Pass The Lighter Vol. 1, and this track is just the first taste. Matthew’s always pushing his lyricism further and further, and you can guarantee that his mixtape will be a melting pot of hard-hitting rhyme schemes, on-point production and wordplay that’ll get your brain whirring in overdrive.