- Bryon Harris
Nune Aka Mr. Propane - 'Black Man Feat K-Rino of SPC'
Review Written by Victoria Scott & Staff
During Nune Aka Mr. Propane's early youth growing up in Southern Louisiana, music was an audible exploration into life's twists and turns. The artist grew up in a household of five under strict guidelines, and rap music was not really condoned by his mother. From the deep and explicit tales of growing up in low income communities, finding fellowship among brethren, and a focus on many of the hardships and harrowing tales of growing up in poverty induced in the lyrical content, it isn't hard to understand her reasoning. For right outside his door, he was faced with some of those same hardships. Even still artists like Tupac Shakur, Nas, Bone Thugs & Harmony, K-Rino, and Scarface spoke to him with poetic, emotion filled thoughts, and poignant delivery. Today, Nune Aka Mr. Propane is creating his own poignant music.
"Black Man," from the debut album Intervention by Nune, aka. Mr. Propane featuring the talented K-Rino of SPC, speaks in-depth about the young Black man's struggles in society. A mighty voice echoes in "Black Man" as Mr. Propane's rap anthem tells his truth and pain with intense lead vocals and an undeniable powerful musical presence, over the bumping beat.
K-Rino comes in strong on the bridge with his fire verses as the rhythm seamlessly flows back into the hook. Producer Jan Richard Branicki and Grammy-nominated Engineer Beau Vallis created a dynamic sound using simplistic old school 90's drum riffs and heavy hip-hop beats, with electronic effects and instrumentation.
A young Black man living in a society that is waiting for him to fail is mentally and emotionally draining. Mr. Propane wrote “Black Man” during a time of trying to find himself and who he was as a man. He takes the years of lost and misconstrued history in the Black communities and creats art out of the up-hill battles and pain.
Mr. Propane's lyrics flow fluidly over the heavy toms, as he raps: “Breaking bread down with our neighbor you’re steady keeping my mind stable, lift up all those lost and unable just let me in and he will save you I know I’m always runnin’ late I won’t let this world take, mental war on the daily send your word.” Once the chorus ends, the bridge builds and K-Rino comes in with his steady rhythmic flow, with a message about having strength and trying to find purpose in the world. K-Rino raps:
“Do I even love me time to run a new race, searching for that true place in the meantime still bathing in my confused state, whole lotta mistakes made, Wish I had a reset lean on God cuz I know, he aint’ finished with me yet.”
Nune aka. Mr. Propane and K-Rino are relentless in their poetic and aggressive lyrical delivery with punching vocals and a seamless flow. Their high energy and bold lyrics personify the passionate nature of being a Black man. Mr. Propane is a genius at externalizing emotions, by using descriptive imagery of the discrimination and struggles a young Black man faces in the world. "Black Man" has a clean sound, and the message about finding one's true identity in an unfair world is inspiring and powerful. Nune Aka Mr. Propane is a 2020 rap artist to watch.