Kool A.D.‘s new music video was just released earlier this week. The video for “Al Green” was shot in only one take. In the video, a ballerina dances around the rapper. Both stare into the camera, aware they’re being filmed, but performing in character at the same time. Hip hop and ballet isn’t a new mashup, but this video makes it post modern and inexplicably cool, a lot like Kool A.D.’s music.
Kool A.D. was born Victor Vazquez in the Bay Area. His path crossed with New York MC Himanshu Suri (aka Heems) in college, where Vazquez was a resident advisor at Suri’s dorm. Suri had known hype man Ashok Kondabolu (aka Dapwell) from high school. In 2008, the three created Das Racist, one of the decade’s most talked-about new underground hip hop groups.
With his 2012 mixtapes The Palm Wine Drinkard and 51 (released four months apart), Kool A.D. cements his style of alt hip hop. At times experimental, 51 is a totally unique sound. That’s the moral of Kool A.D.’s story: he does his own thing. Take it or leave it. Or love it.
Kool A.D. performs at the Hawthorne Theatre on Wednesday, August 22nd. Tickets are on sale now.
