RJD2 & Supastition – According To...

In an otherwise lean month for Hip Hop, veterans RJD2 and Supastition have delivered a mature, satisfying, and genuinely exciting record—reconnecting with the spirit of ’90s underground Hip Hop without falling into the familiar tropes that dilute the genre’s effectiveness today.

Before returning to According To..., it’s worth considering what this says about the state of Hip Hop in 2026. The majority of last year’s standouts came from wise old heads with decades of service under their belts: De La Soul, Clipse, Mobb Deep, billy woods, Nas & DJ Premier. Indeed, Nas was instrumental in three of those records through his Legend Has It series for Mass Appeal.

Of course there are young guns out making great music—IDK made a huge creative breakthrough on January’s E.T.D.S.—but for admirers of the twin crafts of rhyming and producing, the older generation still seems to be leading the way. I find myself increasingly coming back to something the late, great MF DOOM told No Ripcord back in 2004: “It ain’t all about me. The music first, then everything else. I don’t ever want to cheat the people with corny product, you know what I mean? You won’t see me on the cover of an album with tattoos or a big gold chain—none of that.”

Mercifully, RJD2, whose long list of production credits includes the incendiary “Saliva” from DOOM’s 2003 record as Viktor Vaughn, and Greenville, NC rapper Supastition are cut from the same cloth. While another kindred spirit J-Live lights up two tracks with his tight rhymes, According To... is generally light on guest spots, and all the better for it. RJD2’s production work is varied yet cohesive, integrating classic boom bap with deft scratching and energetic breakbeats, while Supastition’s versatility on the mic and sharp observational skills provide a clear and consistent focal point.

Lyrically, Supastition tackles a series of refreshingly grown up concerns. “The Mourning After” explores his complex relationship with an absent father; “Machines Like Us” reflects on the corporate grind from a worker’s perspective; and “Bittersweet” approaches heartbreak with a side of dark humour, as Supastition wishes hilariously minor inconveniences on an ex-lover, such as “On your wedding day, I’m praying that your pastor gets stuck in traffic.”

The best track of all, however, is the autobiographical “Carte Blanche,” which sees Supastition dropping breathless lyrical bombs about his career over a deliciously grimy RJD2 beat. There’s a sincerity to lines like “Some of you will probably think this rodeo’s my first appearance, you should ask around how I personify perseverance,” that elevates it above mere braggadocio. Supastition has spent his career in the underground and while it sounds like he’s made peace with being overlooked, he hasn’t lost a shred of self-belief.

According To… is an outstanding record from two experienced Hip Hop operators at the very top of their game. When you’re this good—and this honest—trends become irrelevant. Mark this down as another victory for the old guard.

According To... is out now via RJ’s Electrical Connections.