1900Rugrat has left the porch

Novelty or goated with the sauce?

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

1900Rugrat — Porch 2 the Pent

I had a conversation with another music industry vet last year that’s stuck with me. He said that A&Rs were searching for artists whose look doesn’t match their sound. Dave Blunts and ian were the two biggest examples at the time, but the last couple years have been a steady stream of viral sensations that fit the bill. 4Batz, Nettspend, Jorjiana, and Cortisa Star are just a few of the more extreme examples.

There are usually racial stereotypes at play in these situations, though not always. And gimmicks have existed as long as we’ve had music to sell. Even without a gimmick, it’s always been helpful for an artist to stand out visually. But as music discovery continues to be reduced to 30-second TikToks and Reels, you better have a reason to not swipe away in the first five seconds. Sometimes it’s as simple as being a wild-looking white person rapping.

1900Rugrat comes from Limestone Creek, FL, a small neighborhood on the northern border of Palm Beach County. His “One Take Freestyle” went viral last fall, partly because he says stuff like “Cracka got an AR like he shootin’ schools up” and mostly because he looks like he could be a descendant of Abraham Lincoln and raps with a thick, South Florida drawl. Since then, he’s added a massive “1900” tattoo across his neck and typically wears a Chrome Hearts beanie pulled low enough to cover both ears.

Rugrat knows the key to lasting beyond a viral moment is versatility, a trait he credits to Kodak Black, his most obvious stylistic forebear, and his biggest influence, Chief Keef. He’s a skilled technical rapper, who studied wordplay from the metaphor greats (NoCap and Rylo Rodriguez). Porch 2 the Pent, his debut album, showcases his attempts at range, from the varied production to the way the second half bleeds more into melodic singing. It feels like a real debut, painting a fuller picture of Rugrat and his world with no crossover attempts.

We’re drowning in a sea of novelty. Everyone is playing the same game—grab attention by any means. Too often the quirked-up white boy is just a marketing campaign, but every now and then they are an authentic person who has spent years honing their craft and went viral at the right time.

5 NEW SONGS

Jim Legxacy — “father”

Jim Legxacy said he was on the block listening to Mitski, and I had to rewind to make sure I heard that right.

BabyChiefDoIt — “yeyeezytunechiweezy”

Being a rap fan in 2025 means most of the essential music drops through streamers, most notably PlaqueBoyMax’s Song Wars. Watching Southside and the rest of the judges nod along makes it a communal experience as 16-year-old Chicago phenom BabyChiefDoIt rattles off a stream of bars I shouldn’t repeat here.

Djo — “Delete Ya”

I wasn’t familiar with Steve from Stranger Things’ game, but I am now.

Glokk40Spaz — “Zodiac”

This beat almost feels like trance, a good counter to Glokk’s coarse voice.

Nino Paid — “Tomorrow Will Be Better”

Another week, another motivational Nino Paid banger.

OLD MUSIC

Since I watched Nickel Boys I haven’t been able to stop listening to this song from Mulatu Astatke, the “father of Ethio-jazz.”

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What’s going on?

Lawrence Burney interviewed Vybz Kartel in Kingston for The Face as the dancehall icon plans his comeback after 13 years in prison.

Is your teen practicing safe handshakes? Great marketing and packaging case study here. $10 Touchland hand sanitizers have become a status symbol for teens, and the company also just launched a body mist that’s charging $20 for a 2 oz. bottle.

Do you need help practicing gratitude? Suki Waterhouse is launching a new app called With Gratitude that says it has a waitlist of 10K.

“Poppy put the silliest one down the other day: ‘I know this is really silly, but I’m so grateful for almond milk lattes,’” said Waterhouse. “There’s so much profoundness in the mundane.”

Like many others, the first time I used Mubi was to watch The Substance during a 7-day free trial. Mubi says 16M people have registered.

The Big Window epidemic has taken over NYC. If you are the new owner of a brownstone and have anywhere from $150K-$350K, you too could have a Big Window facing your backyard.

“I’m trying to think of a project that we’re not doing it on,” said Brendan Coburn, principal at Brooklyn Studio, an architecture and interior-design firm that specializes in historic rowhouses. After a pause: “I can’t think of one.” How did we get here?

R.I.P. Gene Hackman (1930-2025)

You have two more months to use Skype. After 21 years, the service is shutting down for good.

WEEKEND MOOD