Proper Einstein drops Single/Video “Like This”

Awakening from his calm slumber on a neighborhood park bench in the middle of the night, Proper Einstein doesn’t appear bothered by isolation in the new music video for his single “Like This” – instead, he embraces the evocative melodicism behind him and the evening he’s been afforded to do as he pleases. The scenery is surreal, the lyrical substance incredibly bohemian, but despite the oddities that beset all sides of this sonic journey, there’s no disputing whether or not this is an incredibly mature and forward-thinking look for Proper Einstein. In a nutshell, this is hip-hop tailor-made for a rebelliously millennial generation. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proper_einstein/

These beats are tucked behind the vocal as though they’re following the verse, and in the chorus, the angularity of the hook makes it seem as if the groove is actually having a difficult time keeping up with Proper Einstein’s almost inhumanly cavalier attitude. His delivery is as cold as ice, but the melody in his voice is shockingly warm and inviting. There’s a contradiction to most every facet in the construction of this song and its music video, but I would be lying if I said I could easily listen to it once through without repeating it a couple more times for further analyses. 

Peeling back layer after layer of an artistry I had no idea was so complicated and intriguing, Proper Einstein gives underground hip-hop disciples three minutes of pure magic in the new single “Like This” and its viciously avant-garde video, both of which I’m ranking as some of the more boldly left-field material to come from an east coast-born rapper in 2020. It’s been a tough year for a lot independent artists given the lack of resources for live performance, but if this player continues his output beyond the present circumstances for the entertainment industry, he’s in for a lot of mainstream success. 

Mindy McCall