The Louisville rapper EST Gee started up a mixtape blitz in 2019, and he’s been on a steady rise ever since. EST Gee doesn’t sing, and he does’t mumble. Instead, he talks about grimy street stuff in a grave, controlled mutter that makes him sound tense all the time, even when he’s stunting. He’s got a great ear for beats, leaning into an icy Memphis-centric production style that pairs nicely with his coiled, stressed energy. EST Gee doesn’t sound like a prospective pop star or anything, but he’s definitely on a serious upward trajectory, and there’s a whole lot of potential in his new album.