In advance of his performance at SXSW on March 17th, 22-year old DMV rapper Chaz French dropped the video for "Whatcha Know" off his debut mixtape Happy Belated. The song's placid piano-based beat provides a foundation on which Chaz demonstrates a striking emotional complexity, rapping about his rocky childhood, his absentee dad, and being a good father while trying to maintain a boisterous, youthful lifestyle. Shades of J. Cole.
The video alternatively features down Chaz in a church at the pulpit rap-preaching to his homies and Chaz floating in a rowboat down the river. Float down the river of life with Chaz and listen the gospel he preaches.