In time for Hannukah, Jewish American rapper Your Old Droog has dropped “Suspects,” the first single from his upcoming album, following his 2024 release, Movie. The track is produced by Edan, known for his deep knowledge of 1960s and ’70s pop music, and brings together Droog’s narrative style with a sample from Edan’s extensive library.
Although Droog and Edan recently toured together in support of Movie, with Edan DJing for Droog, the rapper explains that he actually wrote “Suspects” three years ago, during a particularly productive phase of his career. Droog reveals that at the time, he was working on a project called YOD Serling, inspired by The Twilight Zone. He had recorded several tracks with Edan during that period, but they were never fully produced until now.
Droog is known for sitting on songs until he feels the timing is right. He compares it to a child staying in the nest longer than expected: “Some kids leave at 18, some stay into their twenties or thirties. It’s like that with my music. I wait for the right time for a track to be ready.”
To mark the holiday season, “Suspects” opens with a nod to Christmas — “‘Twas the night before Christmas” — before diving into a gritty tale of a robbery gone wrong. The collaboration between Droog and Edan brings a fresh, novelistic edge to the track, with a mix of old-school storytelling and a touch of the ’60s vibe in which the sample was originally recorded. Droog chose “Suspects” as the lead single for his next project because it perfectly represents his goals for the album.
“I’m aiming to create a timeless body of work,” Droog says. “I want this album to be something that stands the test of time. I specialize in making songs that no one else is making, and Edan is the perfect producer for that.”
While Droog has not revealed the title of his upcoming album, he says it will be released within the first few months of 2025. He teases that more collaborations with Edan are likely, including a track called “Ghost Writer” that will likely appear on the album. Droog also hints at the possibility of Edan returning to rap, adding, “I want to get him back rhyming on some stuff.”
Edan, known for his 2005 album Beauty and the Beat, has largely shifted away from rapping in recent years, focusing on producing for artists like Mr. Lif and Cut Chemist. He also worked with Homeboy Sandman on the album Humble Pi.
Despite Edan’s status as an underground legend and Droog’s growing acclaim, the two artists seem to be pushing each other to new heights.
Droog is well aware of the realities of being an independent artist in today’s music scene. “Would I rather drop one record and tour for two years? I don’t think that’s realistic,” he says. “I’ve got more music to release, but I want to give each album time to be fully appreciated.”
Although still largely outside the mainstream, Droog is committed to delivering more material for his fans, experimenting with new styles and expanding his unique sound. “People are still catching up to Movie,” he notes. “That’s fine with me. I don’t mind being ahead of the curve.”
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