Instagram/@lilpump
Lil Pump and Smokepurpp, who have very much in common when it comes to their music, have come together once more and put out a new single titled “Rookie,” which hints at the loss of their past sound and, consequently, fame. The social media of Pump was filled with a high-energy caption which was very characteristic of him, and in this way, the old fans who missed the partnership were just about to be the first to know. The track takes you back to the very time when the two were at their peak, a time when loudness and chaos were the main characteristics of late 2010s SoundCloud rap, and hence, lots of listeners along with the duo.
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The following clip is a whirlwind of the musicians’ classic characteristics. Pump, in his ever-present red “Make America Great Again” hat, is rapping at lightning speed, and often his words are drowned out by the thumping beat. The video is a visual extravaganza of dazzling and lavish jewels, extreme gestures, and a general atmosphere of total carefreeness. The audio-visual experience is so powerful that it almost feels like you are being transported to 2017, through a time machine, but it is not for everyone’s listening pleasure.
The responses in the comments were instant and very much akin to the past. A user among the commenters encapsulated the sentiment of the entire community perfectly with the words, “Wakeup boys its 2017 again.” This very brief but nevertheless strong comment was very prominent with hundreds of likes, and this fact indicated that a lot of people perceive this collaboration as an awakening of the old music history rather than an attempt to break new ground. One user expressed his annoyance by saying, “Bring 2016 back purp and pump I KNOW YOU CAN,” depending the very strong desire for the complete revamping of the style of that era.
On the flip side, not all of the remarks were ecstatic. Some users warned that there would be a price to pay for returning to the past, e.g. one of them said: “This is not good for you guys. You are still young enough to know what good beats are and you should also be able to tell how the music market has changed, so this doesn’t sound promising.” In a way, this criticism recognizes that although the nostalgia is very strong, the forces of change in the music industry have made it so that what was working for the artists five years ago may not have the same effect today.
The constant debates and conversations regarding music did not overshadow Pump’s fashion decisions even for a second. His red MAGA hat, which has practically become a staple of his persona, was heavily debated, even a fan going so far as to create a new thread on the topic. Another fan called himself a philosopher and said, “Wearing the cap with the message of support for Trump while everyone else disapproves of him reveals loyalty; it also shows that they do not care about anything at all, which is the highest form of spiritual growth.” This interpretation sees Pump’s controversial accessory less as a political statement and more as an emblem of the ultimate, unconcerned rebellion.
The rappers’ communication wasn’t lost in translation; in fact, the engagement of listeners was even deeper. The discussion kicked off from a single line which one user had decoded as “’50 pints of wok just to book me’🔥🔥😂,” and while it was hilarious, no one could resist the charm of its flow. This is just the kind of absurd yet extremely catchy phrase that has been pointing to the genre’s hallmark and it is very much alive in the listeners’ preferences.
As insightful was perhaps the reaction that could not be easily classified either as fandom or humor. One user confessed darkly comically about his potential misbehavior saying, “Imma start robbing corner stores again if yall keep consistently dropping,” making the link with the music’s unwritten rule of reckless, outlaw energy quite clear. The comment is an acknowledgment of the strong, albeit troublesome, vibe that the duo exudes.
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Lil Pump and Smokepurpp’s “Rookie” is not merely a song, it is a cultural artifact skillfully thrown right at the original audience. It deliberately avoids all the current trends and the stuff that is in vogue by going for a sound and style that would be comforting to some and old-fashioned to others. The only question that remains is whether this reunion will be a successful comeback or just a brief nostalgic trip back in time, but what has been undoubtedly sparked is a controversy about their heritage and the tangled yet still strong attraction of the SoundCloud rap era. In other news, Lil Pump recently made headlines for a personal offer, and he also once offered $10,000 for a viral challenge. Additionally, the rapper shared a hilarious AI-generated image with Snoop Dogg that sparked a lot of fan reactions.
