Varth Dader and JayLotus "Paradigm Shift" Review

While I don't know the entire story of NASA8, I must say I'm intrigued by the movement. If I had to bet you probably don't know about the crew either. NASA8 is made up of an assortment of artists including emcees, producers, graphic designers etc. I was first introduced to the crew via a joint that my homey Jean P did with producer Tek.Lun of NASA8. They've dropped some solid projects from Varth Dader, Big Nick Pearl City, Jiro, Ale, from Summerclub and more. Today I'm reviewing the latest project to come from the camp “Paradigm Shift”. This is a collaboration EP between JayLotus (producer) and Varth Dader (emcee). Varth Dader really blasted onto the scene earlier this year with “Tice Nitties” and JayLotus has been dropping projects and providing soundscapes for a minute. Let's see how these two do together This project is a bit different from most EPs in that you really get a sense and an appreciation for both the emcee and producer. In most collaborations like this the producer is usually lost in the shuffle being covered up by the emcee's words, not here though. With a good portion of tracks on this EP we're able to just enjoy JayLotus' sounds before Varth Dader comes in with his lyrical prowess The opener “Sleep” has Lotus providing a somewhat haunting and spacy beat accompanied with Dader's patented throat clearing. One thing that shines about Varth Dader is the lyrical diversity and potency that comes with his rhymes. The first verse Dader showcases his lyrical prowekss flexing his muscles on the mic. However the second verse shows a more vulnerable Dader as he reflects on his past and the progress he's made from being dissed in school to being a “lyrical chemist”. Self-harm and other factors led him to be the artist that he is today. For me personally his second verse on “Sleep” is one of my favorite verses I've heard from him Tracks like “Entity” and “At Last (Phobia)” have Dader with a more braggadocio tone in his raps. It's different from most though, while yes the song is filled with similes and metaphors, they're original comparisons. Dader will have you fiending for what comparison or diss he's going to say next and even have you laughing at a couple of them, but most importantly you'll find his lines clever “You a poodle to husky, like jeans that loosely fit” And that's only one of many memorable lines on this project from Varth Dader The closer on this album might be one of my favorite tracks from this year. “We Are...” has Varth Dader and NASA8 members, Big Nick Pearl City, Ale, From Summer and Jiro to assist on this four-man cypher track. JayLotus provides a beautiful soundscape on this one sampling Chris Botti's cover of “Estate”. All four emcees go in on this one, not necessarily spitting back-breaking bars (the beat doesn't really call for it) but all four come correct. Varth Dader closes out the track with many quotables, making this track a perfect closer “You can catch me playing the xylophone, with local rappers collarbones I'm hard as cobblestone, reigning down fury on this microphone” “Cornerstone of ill s*it, I was born to flow My body is a catacomb of brillance” “Paradigm Shift” is a short EP but with it comes a lot of substance and consistency both lyrically and production wise. If I have my facts straight JayLotus just joined NASA8 and if that's the case he's a perfect fit. It's hard to put the production on this album in one lane or genre but Lotus did a good job of having different styles while still keeping the sound cohesive. Varth Dader again shows a mix of confident rhymes and reflection over the verses he's written. He's a fun and entertaining listen, he's serious but not too serious where he won't crack a joke (Tig Ol' Bitties). The two fit perfectly together, so do yourself a favor and drop a couple dollars and support NASA8, they're just getting started