Label: Mad Decent

It’s hard to take RiFF RAFF seriously. He’s a rapper with music that gets written off as besides the point because his stock and trade is irreverence. You take one look at him, see the obnoxious tattoos, teeth, and hair, and assume he makes garbage music that’s ironic at best or offensive at worst. So yes, he sets the bar extremely low. But guess what? He jumps way over that bar.

RiFF RAFF has developed a style unto himself that’s loaded with pop culture references that don’t make quite make linear sense but have tons of entertainment value. He’s not unlike Lil B, except there’s oftentimes more effort in his delivery and song composition. He never breaks character. He dares you to believe him when, on a song like the Vine anthem “Tip Toe Wing in My Jawwdinz,” he declares, “I'm at a slumber party, girls only, got you mad/But you can sleep outside, here's my Versace sleeping bag.”

Although over-the-top exaggerations are hallmarks of his style, he comes across sincere and thoughtful when abandoning rap sounds on melancholy moments like “Time.” Throughout the album, Jody Highroller proves he’s got way more tricks up his sleeve than anyone would have guessed. If you can’t appreciate music this silly and offbeat, chances are you’re just too pretentious. —Insanul Ahmed