Angry Blackmen

The Chicago-hailing duo - consisting of rappers Brian Warren and Quentin Branch - has amassed a well-earned cult following among hip-hop connoisseurs worldwide. Although Angry Black Men's recent album is in conversation with noise rap, it feels more immediately accessible than much of the subgenre’s output. Issued by stalwart Philadelphia experimental label Deathbomb Arc, "The Legend of ABM" shares its chaotic DNA with labelmates like clipping. and JPEGMAFIA. Derek Allen produced the record in its entirety, giving the songs a distorted, metallic palette.

Moreover, ABM’s brand of blown-out beats seems less like an aesthetic choice and more like a natural depiction of how it feels to survive in 2024. The cacophony never ceases and the mind always races, but there must be some way to exist within the din. Angry Black Men’s music is the sound of the unfolding apocalypse rendered in stunning 4K.