Finishing First

posted in: Artist Features • Urban

Don’t let the name fool you”The Nice Guys have bit of a naughty side. If you need proof, look no further than the line of women’s underwear they created for their female fans. The nice part of the Houston group is their soulful brand of hip hop. Things Ain’t The Same is perfect in its simplicity. Stripped-down percussion and a breezy guitar line keep the mood earnest, but light. For headier material, skip to Toast, where MC Yves Easy Yves Saint Ozoude declares, It’s a celebration, bitches. Like the lone star version of Lupe Fiasco, Ozoude Slow spits his lyrics with languor, letting the words sink in against the beat’s insistent thump and a retro horn section. Curtains is a nostalgic coda, the crackle of analog giving the track old-school warmth while the lyrics nudge the listener towards the exit: This has been a show / I know it hurts to go. Parting with their music is such sweet sorrow. Nice work, guys.