REVIEW: tdf - Culture
The Minnesota native further proves that he has the underground world wrapped around his finger on his long-awaited 2025 mixtape.
“Welcome everybody! Real music is here. The wait is finally over.”
A Morgan Freeman-like voice welcomes us to Culture, the latest release from tdf—finally here after nearly a year of teasers and SoundCloud exclusives. And let me tell you—it is glorious.
It is not every day you find a producer who crafts such a nostalgic yet fresh sound, reminiscent of predecessor Pi’erre Bourne. It’s even rarer to find one who can drop a 24-track tape, with nearly flawless production throughout. And it’s almost unheard of to find a producer who accomplishes all of this without ever having to touch the mic. (Shoutout to Pierre, though.)
One of tdf's most commendable feats is his ability to recruit a wide range of underground artists while maintaining a cohesive vision. The variety of underground rap styles on this tape is part of what makes it so enjoyable.
A Stacked Underground Roster
The mixtape kicks off with household names in the underground scene—1oneam (who had an especially strong 2024), ohsxnta, and Okaymar. Then there are the sporadic yet angelic tracks featuring artists like spoof, jojo (whose track "attached" stood out to me), and NYM Riz. These songs are standouts, earning plenty of replays.
And wow, that jssr track. I’ve been following jssr closely over the past year, and his work continues to impress (check this one out). Even though he often sounds intoxicated while recording, his melodies and flows are unmatched. His track on Culture, built on a Novacane sample by Frank Ocean, became an instant favorite.
Even Dom Corleo (I know, right?) surprised me with “Water”.
As expected, there’s a signature "break" in the middle of the album where tdf's 808s become more aggressive—or, as Marrgielaa would put it, "sound like a microwave." This is where SmokingSkul, wildkarduno, and thr33 enter the mix. These rappers have been growing on me over the last six months, and their contributions on Culture feel perfectly placed.
“TDF is dog***t, bruh, there's a reason nobody hops on that *****’s beats 'cause his 808s sound like his *****n' microwave.” - “lemme see” (feat. ohsxnta)
thr33, in particular, has been catching my ear ever since I heard his track “what” last year. His no-auto experimental style took time to click, but Culture sold me on it. "out of kontrol/paparazzi" (feat. wildkarduno & thr33) features two of my favorite tdf beats ever and some wild bars.
“I came out the mud like a *****n' pig. You not from the block, we don't know what you did” - thr33
The Art of Sampling
One of Culture’s biggest strengths is its sample work. Not only does jssr glide effortlessly over a long-awaited Frank Ocean sample, but tdf also flips one of my favorite house tracks from the past year into something entirely his own.
While this tape doesn't necessarily highlight my favorite aspects of tdf's production (love4u had some crazier beats), the artists truly shine. One in particular: Minnesota’s Okaymar.
Okaymar has been one of my top-streamed artists for a while. His lazy, laid-back flow, over-the-top bars, and raw, out of tune melodies have me hooked. Fans (myself included) have been begging for an album or EP, but his six-year catalog consists only of singles.
On Culture we get 5 Okaymar tracks, including long awaited fan favorite, “what you said (feat. 1oneam)”. This beat is impeccable—so smooth. Mar and Zen just glide. It is hands down my favorite song on the tape. He also delivers on “fried” and “need some more”.
The Standouts and What’s Next
After dropping 2024’s The Cure (also one of my favorite albums of the year), ohsxnta makes an appearance on Culture with "ghetto symphony" and "make it work." Both tracks are solid, though not groundbreaking. Still, his gritty vocals and production have been on repeat for me all year. Allegedly he has an album dropping this summer—something to look forward to.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Culture is an incredibly enjoyable mixtape. Since its release on Thursday night, it has completely taken over my Airbuds app, and the replay value is undeniable. If you enjoy funky, Pi'erre-reminiscent production and are open to exploring a wave of underground sounds, I highly recommend giving Culture a listen.
I give this album a 7.4 on my rating scale.
(out of ten, based on the averages of all songs rated on a 10-point scale)
Hey Aaron, such a lovely review hermano, proud of ya!