Fate: “Ride With Me” embodies rap’s populist instincts!
Chicago born Anthony AKA Fate was very much into poetry when he was a teen because he loved putting words together and making them sound smooth. Eventually he tried rapping with some friends which sparked his interest. His love for Tupac did the rest as proceeded to work at his craft. At 16 he purchased his very own studio setup with the money he earned from odd jobs, and began recording and mixing his own music. Soon he got his first break to perform live in the Northside of Chicago. The mixtape “B.O.M.B.”, soon followed, as Fate continued his forward momentum. He has now released his latest single, entitled, “Ride With Me”.
Hip-hop has long held contradictory ideas about the validity and desirability of mainstream fame, as evidenced by the backlash that greeted the success of some rappers, who came out of the ghettos to achieve the sort of sales more associated with boy bands than rookie rappers.
Regardless of where he comes from, to purists, Fate’s crimes against hip-hop may be many: He’s young; he may not have paid all his dues yet; his songs can appeal to just about everybody; his lyrics and hooks are catchy as hell; and, perhaps most egregiously, he is not your regular stereotyped tattooed muscleman, having a physical appearance more akin to the likes of The Notorious B.I.G.
Dismissing Fate for any of the aforementioned reasons means overlooking his considerable strengths. At his best, he embodies rap’s populist instincts: Infectious, good-time music which invites everybody to sing along and join the party, whether they’re white or black, from the streets or from the suburbs.
“Ride With Me”, boasts similarly universal appeal. At first listen, the song sounds disposable, like the sort of throwaway track The Neptunes could concoct in its sleep. But it burrows its way into the subconscious with almost sadistic force, until it becomes impossible to resist.
This track definitely has Southern influences, but it is not the garbage you hear all day on the radio. It’s pretty clear that you can’t go wrong with a Southern beat. This is music for you to listen to in the club or in your ride.
Fate’s flow and lyrics are top-notch, and he, unlike most rappers, sounds wonderful when he sings too. He is the total package if you’re just starting to dig this genre. His voice is tight, his beats will keep you moving, and his hooks are extremely catchy. It shows you how versatile this guy is!
