As an avid music fan, and a lifelong Hip-Hop head, I have a great appreciation for those special moments when rappers’ musical influences shine through in their own work. Some of my favorite examples are how Harry Mack (independent freestyle artist) slips into a very noticeable Brother Ali style when he goes hard, and how young Hip-Hop prodigy Token was very obviously influenced by Eminem and Tech Nine.
In contrast to these examples, however, it is not a flow that marks Hood Brat’s tell-tall influence. She goes a step above that to reference Nicki Minaj in her lyrics directly. The Miami rapper made her debut on the VH1 reality TV show Love & Hip-Hop: Miami, rising to popularity by revealing her struggles as an artist beginning her career.
Formally signed by Artison Records, Hood Brat has released 3 studio albums since 2017 and has dropped 15 singles including her most recent release.
“O.T.B (On The Block)” was released independently by Hood Brat on February 24, and features a bass heavy trap beat with a flow to match. To my surprise, the lyrics are not currently available, anywhere, so I couldn’t cross reference them for things that I may have missed, or heard incorrectly. However, this is what I did notice.
The song starts out with a brief spoken word intro and the DJ tag of, “Charles, what it do bro?” to set the mood. Hood Brat then dives in with the bridge/pre-chorus to get the song going before coming hard in verse one to set herself apart as a baddie who has come up from the streets, spitting lines like:
“My bag is different, I made them cut it in blue bills
It’s tax season!, Brand new jeep sittin’ on new wheels
They like,
“Dayum lil’ girl, you been glowin’ up!”
Label niggas
They were sleepin’ on me
Til I was blowin up.
Seemingly without taking a breath, Hood Brat jumps from verse 1 into the chorus, where the subtle Nicki Minaj references come to play, with lines like:
“Pucci on my coochie
Imma make these bitches hate“
(Referencing Nicki Minaj’s verese in “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”)
And:
“Go and get your wig laid
Bitch I’m arrogant like Tae“
(Referencing Nicki Minaj’s most recent hair stylist who is professionally known as Arrogant Tae.)
But, do not let the references fool you, Hood Brat is not copying Nicki Minaj beyond shouting her out (very subtly).
“O.T.B.” stands on its own as Hood Brat delivers several flow switch ups, varying the style of each verse, and her pen game is definitely on point. Every bar impressed me the whole way through, and I am devastated that they did not release the lyrics with this single.
Overall, I think that Hood Brat is a rapper to keep your eye on, as she certainly proves herself on this track. “O.T.B.” is undoubtedly a banger that is sure to make its way onto many parties, beast mode, and “twerkout” playlists this year.
Now I just want to know why we haven’t gotten a Flo Milli/Hood Brat collaboration yet.