Making “conscious” hip-hop without coming off as self-righteous or pedantic often proves difficult, a trap best avoided with humor and a blend of personal details that embed a sense of humanity in cautionary words and pointed opinions on the world.
Florida rap group After the Smoke pulls consciousness off with flair on “Wallstreet,” matching a warning about the pitfalls of chasing money that never feels like a lecture (“Now what they telling you?/Don’t ever purchase what they selling you/I think you know why”) with an inventive, surreal video. Get lost in the music and visuals or dive in for deeper meaning–After the Smoke makes it easy to enjoy “Wallstreet” on either level.
