2hi is one of the most interesting and exciting rappers to emerge from the Milwaukee area recently. Even though he had recently started to garner hype, 2hi has actually been releasing music for a while; he first started posting music on Soundcloud in 2015 and released his first three EPs in 2017. I wish that I had known about his music back then, as his music has always been high quality and he has always had a sound that is so fresh and different from his peers. I recently discovered him, though, because his music has started to pop off in underground Rap communities over three years or so. 2hi first started to receive a lot of attention online after he put his album 2 Birds in 2020. This project was praised by lots of Hip Hop fans on internet music forums and was endorsed by lots of fellow up-and-coming rappers, and it put him in the map as and rising underground Rap star. Since initially popping off with 2 Birds in 2020, 2hi has stayed very prolific with his output, ensuring people remember his name. In 2023, alone, he has released six singles already(I recently wrote about two of his newest singles, ‘Captain Kirk’ and ‘Band-aid Boy,’ both of which I enjoyed a lot. Read that post after this one if you have not seen it yet). His latest single, ‘IDKB,’ features two other exciting rappers from the Milwaukee area, NilexNile and $hiiiro. Let me know in the comments below how you feel about ‘IDKB,’ and also comment on how you feel about 2hi’s other singles he has released this year.

‘IDKB’ is a psychedelic Trap anthem that fits in perfectly with the theme of the music that 2hi has been releasing recently. The instrumental for this one has a trippy and hazy feeling that transports me to another planet when I hear it. The melody is so smooth and mesmerizing; I love the analog element that the melody has, as it gives the song a nostalgic quality that I appreciate so much. This melody has a sound that reminds me of the music that would play the start-up menu of children’s video games back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The beat for this song is super hard-hitting and brash; when paired with this melody, it gives the song a feeling that is somehow tough and welcoming at the same time. All three vocal performances on this track are excellent, and each artist complements the others well. 2hi’s vocal performance is even-keeled and hypnotic; the way his voice pairs with the instrumental gives the song feel otherworldly. Both NilexNile and $hiiiro rap with more gruff and intense tones and flows than 2hi does. Because of this, these two artists break up the monotony of the song. Their vocal performances give the track so much texture and add a level of complexity that it benefits from greatly. Overall, ‘IDKB’ is an atmospheric banger that is perfect for any summer kickback; it is the kind of song that makes me want to drink and smoke the night away on a hot night with some friends. This is a great song that highlights how talented 2hi is, and it is the latest example of why he is so riveting and deserves the hype he is getting.