For a while, I'd feared Neon Icon—RiFF RAFF's debut album on Mad Decent—was approaching Detox-level improbability, but at long last here's its first single, "How To Be the Man," produced by DJ Mustard. After a year of inconsistency, at least relative to 2012, RiFF has stepped up his game here. Though still filled with his signature, candy-coated non sequiturs, this is one of his more narrative tracks since "Lil Mama I'm Sorry," with his usually disjointed bars coming together to form a fictionalized road-to-success story. Mustard's sparseness complements him well, creating essentially a sparser, crisper sonic sequel to "Porsche Cayenne." (Read our recent interview with Mustard for some insight.)
Stream: RiFF RAFF, "How To Be the Man (prod. DJ Mustard)"
