Canadian singer Bryan Adams released his hit single ‘Summer of ’69’ on 17th June 1985. On the heels of the Rock anthem’s 38th anniversary, the viral rap sensations known as THE HOODIES share their take on the original song’s concept. Released to all major digital streaming platforms on this year’s summer solstice (21st June), the new single finds brothers E-Class and Young Poppa claiming dominance ahead of the season with braggadocious raps over producer A2’s chopped sample of the original melody and famous guitar riff.
Hailing from New York, The Hoodies are brothers Eben “E-Class” Nettles and Umar “Young Poppa” Abrams. The duo’s name serves as a tribute to the unjust government-sanctioned killings of young Black men, reclaiming the often demonized symbol of a Black man in a hoodie. Together, older brother E-Class (25) and younger brother Young Poppa (17) embody the fusion of two disparate generations and, consequently, imbue Hip-Hop’s throwback era as well as its promising future.
Best known for their viral social media freestyle series ‘In The Whip’, the two young emcees have been honing their craft since the ages of nine and four respectively. With impressive wordplay matched by sharp flows and an unrivalled ferocity in their delivery, The Hoodies first became internet sensations in 2016 when a video recording of the two trading bars over Jadakiss and Styles P’s “One More Step” in the front seats of their mother’s car racked up over three million views on Facebook within a month. The clip eventually caught the attention of famous fans like D.L. Hughley, and even landed the two brothers on The Ellen Show.
Since then The Hoodies have gone on to release a full-length album (Blood Thicker) in 2019 and an EP (Where Should We Land) in 2020. They’ve also gone on to deliver electrifying performances for just about every online freestyle platform, including Hot97’s Funk Flex, Sway’s OVERTIME, Bars On I-95, and many more. Rap legends such as Black Thought, Fat Joe, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Redman, Jadakiss, and Styles P have all vehemently co-signed the duo. With rightful comparisons to The Notorious B.I.G, Young Poppa’s talents extend beyond Rap and onto the small screen with supporting acting roles in shows like NBC’s The Last OG and Law & Order, Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, and more.
Check out the video below, directed by Corey Hallam and Tiffany Abrams…
