A new sub-genre of rap music is emerging from Memphis, blending Hip-Hop and blues. Al Kapone, the artist behind the hit “Whoop That Trick,” is creating a unique sound by fusing these two genres for his upcoming album. Along with the new style, he is also adopting a new name, Big Al.
When asked to explain his new sound, Al Kapone said, “You know you got Al Kapone, Al Kapeezy, oh boy, now we gone add Big Al. The only thing that makes it different is Hip-Hop is bass heavy, the drums and of course, you’re rapping. Blues is more instrumentation and a lot more singing.”
Big Al has been perfecting this sound since 2020 and believes he is the first artist to fully embrace it. In 2020, there was an attempt to merge these two genres in the Mississippi Delta.
Fat Possum/Epitaph released an album called New Beats From The Delta, featuring Hip-Hop versions of songs by Junior Kimbrough, CeDell Davis, T-Model Ford, and Johnny Farmer. Producers like Organized Noize, Big Oomp, and Tha Go were involved in this project.
Big Al is determined to change the game and inspire others, as reported by Action News 5.
He expressed, “Any young artist out there that gets a dose of what I’m doing, I would say that I’m definitely laying the blueprint out where they can take it and take it to the next level. That’s why I’ve been taking my time to really make sure it sounds the way it wants to be heard. And to respect the blues and respect the Memphis Hip-Hop fusion that makes sure I’m giving them both their love and respect.”
Big Al hopes to release his untitled project in September.
