Thelo-Que
Catman
Catman, the new seven-song EP of bedroom hip-hop from Knoxville rapper/producer Thelo-Que, was inspired by a dream: “Wandering aimlessly through the streets of downtown Knoxville I came to the conclusion that even though I’m in the form of a cat, I’m also a man … a CATMAN,” Thelo writes on his Bandcamp page. That fits the general atmosphere of the new collection—hazy, disconnected, and, well, a little dreamy.
Catman was written and recorded in a week, which gives the EP a loose-limbed groove and stream-of-consciousness vibe. The songs float by on a suite of luxe synth arrangements and lush beats, with flourishes of funk guitar and spacey keyboards. Amid the laid-back production and floating instrumental passages, Thelo manages a subtly impressive performance—his rhymes on “Til I’m Holy” and “Come Back” show his facility without showing off or interrupting the gauzy mood.
Senior Editor Matthew Everett manages the Knoxville Mercury's arts & entertainment section, including the comprehensive calendar section—Knoxville’s go-to guide for everything worth doing in the area. You can reach Matthew at matthew@knoxmercury.com.
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