It's been three years since the release of DJ Shadow's last project. Much has happened in the world from Trump being elected into office to the technological advancements. Now, he returns with the same type of political motivation on his latest project, Our Pathetic Age. It's a double-disc affair with one side dedicated to solely instrumentals and another one filled with a long-list of guests. Nas, Dave East, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, along with other members of the Wu-Tang Clan appear on the tracklist. Released on Mass Appeal, it also includes features from Run The Jewels and Stro.
"People are addicted to, and addled by distraction; they’re angry and confused, and disaffected by their own governmental institutions," he said about the project. "The songs merely observe but don’t offer solutions. Despite the title, it’s a hopeful, vibrant album…there is always light in darkness. I want it to reflect the times we live in, a signpost in the ground to mark the era…Our Pathetic Age."
About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years.
Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021.
Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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