Lupe Dragon “I Know What You Did”

The aftermath of a bad breakup resulted in Lupe Dragon’s own creation of turmoil punk-rap that is unlike anything listeners have heard before. Fused with immediate intensity, the track is guided through a raw, unfiltered cathartic release that has left a beautiful, explosive trace. Lupe Dragon’s singing voice poses a similar Billie Eilish aesthetic pleasantry, while her turmoil rap is direct and unapologetic, resembling the mixture of gunfire and hardcore rock. This direct confrontation resulted in a moment of shock when listening to “I Know What You Did.” It’s such a surprise even for audiences who are familiar to Lupe’s vocal style.

Adhering to a punk attitude, “I Know What You Did” isn’t so much about polished production or synth-wrapped perfection. The street-like aesthetic is easily to connect to, and her authentic retro style that taps into an early aught pop-punk territory is something mesmerizing. In many ways, “I Know What You Did” marks a new height for the Northern New Jersey based singer/songwriter.

Lupe Dragon’s angsty guitar is a constant in her songs. Although the patterns are simple, the energy and emotions in them have poses a potential threat of explosion which creates so much tension and richer texture for her songs. “I Know What You Did” also see an emotive, chaotic percussion teaming up with Dragon’s intoxicating melodies.

The singer-songwriter is really good at creating memorable hooks that sound like something that have existed for a long time, but haven’t been captured on a song. Her unique vocal style provides the softness and vulnerability that feels special to the genre, while it could be potentially explored further and taken to the next level. There are so many wonderful things in Lupe Dragon’s songwriting and performance, but there’s also beauty in her ability and potentials to outgrow herself.