A song that is infectious, thoughtful and unpretentious — is it possible to achieve that holy trinity these days? Apparently so for yU, an underground MC, producer and member of the D.C.-based hip hop group Diamond District. “Thought About It” comes off his solo debut, the aptly named Before Taxes, in which he strives to take it back to the days when hip hop was not commercially polluted. And take it back he does, without sounding derivative or stale. The formula here is simple: launch straight into a verse after a quick shout-out, set the refrain over a soul sample, and keep a consistent flow. These elements are enhanced by a few subtle details: toward the end of the track, for example, the instrumentals drop out for a stripped-down version of the chorus and then give way to three intense beats. The result has the organic sound of a group like Gangstarr — and to sweeten the deal, yU produces or has a hand in all his own beats. If “Thought About It” is any indication, this multitalented artist is one to look out for.

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