What do you call a three-headed monster so fierce it skips over fire and breathes lightning instead?
In the universe of Godzilla, the answer is Monster Zero, King Ghidorah. In the universe of underground rap, it’s the trio ROTN. On the new EP Monster Zero, out now on BLK Breakfast, Daemon, Rec Riddles and Supreme Sol spit more than fire — and there’s no Godzilla in sight to stop them.
This rap beast hits with a variety of attacks. Each of Monster Zero’s three tracks has its own distinct vibe and delivery. “High Stakes Gentlemen” features appropriately classy samples and classic beatmaking from producer llouis. The title track — featuring Royce XOXO and DK Stargod — is a grimey powderkeg of low-end metal guitar and Kill Bill-style sounds, courtesy of producer HXLLSHADE. And the EP closes with “Go Off,” a bit of dark, synth-driven boom-bap from producer Aye.Dre.
ROTN’s core trio move nimbly in each of these environments, switching from astute commentary to braggadocio (it’s cool, they can back it up) with ease. Daemon — an artist whose tracks, “Vader,” “Turn the World Around” and others have earned placement everywhere from XBox exclusives to Netflix to ACLU ads — has proven he can stand alone. But he really thrives standing with others. He, Rec Riddles and Supreme Sol trade rhymes with a deftness that comes with compatibility, collaboration and maybe even a little healthy competition.
The result is an EP that crackles with electricity from a St. Louis crew putting the whole world on alert.