Rising Seattle rapper Highway has dropped his self-titled major-label debut mixtape. The project is out now via Victor Victor Worldwide/Geffen Records.
A powerful introduction to the artist/producer, Highway builds on the buzz of his recent singles “Cash Talk (No Talkin),” “Next Weekend,” and introduces new hits including “Money Talk2,” which is accompanied by a video.
“Money Talk2” finds the hip-hop upstart unloading a barrage of emotional bars with a pained distance. “I can’t feel no pain ‘cuz a n___a used to it,” Highway spits in his signature Auto-Tune-drenched flow over heavy bass, warbling synths, and rumbling 808s. “Going through a phase, fell in love, it’s a movie.” The video was directed by Damien May through production company Everywhere & Nowhere.
That track, like the entire project, was produced by Highway alongside co-producer Johnny Made It. The Pacific Northwest native writes all his own songs, and with zero features on the project, he confidently steps into the spotlight. Other highlights include the flex-heavy rap-funk opus “Take It All,” and the luxurious “Right Way,” which is a perfect fit to light up clubs across the country this summer.
Highway might be a fresh face to some, but his deep sense for the genre comes from his time spent as an in-demand producer. As a beatmaker, he reached a level of satisfaction and achievement with his work and then turned his attention to rapping. It didn’t take long for Highway to realize that he belonged behind the mic. Confidence is central to his art, and he advocates for those who are unapologetically themselves and willing to follow their passions.
The rapper’s debut major-label mixtape showcases an artist firmly tapped into the cultural zeitgeist, with the songwriting and production chops to make the work entirely his own. It’s no wonder he has nabbed cosigns from folks like Billboard-charting producer Jetson, producer and recording artist Ye Ali, Nick Mira of Internet Money, and indie auteur Sango. Highway proves that he can make a cohesive, powerful statement throughout an entire project.
