Rating: NNN
As much as some dubstep heads might hate Rusko for popularizing the testosterone-driven chainsaw bass line aspect of the genre, even they’d admit that he’s got the best chance of helping the genre cross over into the North American market and possibly even the pop charts. Hipster hero Diplo saw this potential too, so he signed him to Mad Decent for his debut full-length album and has been pushing him heavily on this side of the ocean.
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It’s clear from listening to O.M.G.! that Rusko sees himself as bigger than just dubstep. He’s stretching himself in a bunch of directions, touching on fidget house rhythms, reggae, hip-hop and dance pop. We give him credit for experimenting and challenging himself, but it might have been wiser to save that for his second album and concentrate instead on putting together a stronger and more focused mission statement.
As uneven as it is, O.M.G.! contains enough brilliance that it pains us to have to give it only 3Ns. The Gucci Mane collaboration alone convinces us that Rusko has the talent to pull this music out of the underground.
If only he’d settle down a bit.
Top track: Got Da Groove feat. Gucci Mane
Rusko hits Kool Haus August 14.
