Since 1997, Andre Adams has been making music under the rap name Andre Nickatina, which is when he released his third studio album entitled “Cocaine Raps.” Ten albums later, his style hasn’t shifted an inch, nor have his convictions. Pisces, his most recent work, still embodies his signature vibe of cool consumption, paired with a hint of comedy and character. The album starts with an amusing anecdote from an interaction with himself and Mac Dre to set the mood for a balance of seriousness and fun.
The beats on Pisces fall into the style of Bay Area hip-hop, which, being from San Francisco, has always been Andre’s arena of familiarity. Dark, yet celebratory tracks with classic, cinematic elements guide the listener on an entertaining G-ride through Nickatina’s provocative mind. Sketch interludes mediate the main songs, perpetuating the light-heartedness of the record just as well as the humorous samples like Ric Flair’s famous lifestyle speech embedded in “Woooh.” The perfect merriment of enjoyment, absurdity, and confidence are what make Pisces worth picking up and Nickatina's current tour a must-see.
Andre performs in his hometown of San Fransisco at Slim’s tomorrow night (January 19th), followed by these dates in the PNW:
January 23rd - Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
January 24th - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
January 26th - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater