On “Diamonds,” we met Ace Cosgrove as a promising talent, a rapper with a cadence loosely comparable to Schoolboy Q for its energy and fluidity punctuated by sudden outbursts. For new single “UsvsWorld,” Cosgrove–whether intentionally or not–crafts something reminiscent of another west coast movement, chanelling a bit of Project Blowed bounce, grabbing a buoyant, jazzy beat and dancing across it with his excited, malleable flow. Cosgrove’s is the sort of style that seems to spring from joy in the act of rapping itself, the serendipity of attacking words with different emphases and exploring varied rhythms–even if only slightly–to breathe life to whatever the subject matter at hand. It’s a solid step forward in finding a distinctive voice that suggests an interest in craft and in compelling ways of presenting content.
