Mad Dukez + Fresh Kils – “Bootleg Bartenders”

Quakers’ self-titled Stones Throw debut was, in my opinion, one of the most slept on releases last year, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that Mad Dukez + Fresh Kils’ latest single “Bootleg Bartenders” has me all worked up. Anchored by a Geoff Barrow-esque beat courtesy of Fresh Kils, “Bootleg Bartenders” is slinky, its spy movie horns seductively toy with Dukez’ emotions, egging on a subtle ferociousness that lurks beneath the surface of his hyper-clean flow and breathless delivery. There’s less grime in the track than the title and the trip-hop elements would make you think, but that works to Dukez’ benefit, allowing his every word to hit with maximum impact.

The video may be goofy as all get out— there’s a stuffed monkey in a starring role, after all— but that’s part of the fun, functioning as an intriguing juxtaposition of that danger contained within the beat and in Dukez’ cadence. It’s not the chaotic danger of Odd Future’s monstrous teen angst but instead the danger of lowered inhibition and an all-too-adult bottling of rage. Maybe that brand of anger isn’t all that en vogue right now, but it’s arguably a bit more timeless, capable of carving out a similar niche as Quakers— content in the shadows, where there’s less visibility but also a lot more possibility for surprise.
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Nick Hanover got his degree from Disneyland, but he’s the last of the secret agents and he’s your man. Which is to say you can find his particular style of espionage here at Loser City as well as Ovrld, where he contributes music reviews and writes a column on undiscovered Austin bands.  You can also flip through his archives at  Comics Bulletin, which he is formerly the Co-Managing Editor of, and Spectrum Culture, where he contributed literally hundreds of pieces for a few years. Or if you feel particularly adventurous, you can always witness his odd .gif battles with Dylan Garsee on twitter: @Nick_Hanover