The Preview

Released in October 2010, The Preview served as the commercial introduction for the Philadelphia duo Chiddy Bang following the viral success of their mixtapes. The EP is a masterclass in the 'indie-rap' subgenre, primarily defined by its innovative use of samples from contemporary indie artists. Producer Xaphoon Jones utilized a maximalist approach, layering glitchy electronic textures over recognizable hooks from MGMT's 'Kids' and Sufjan Stevens' 'Chicago.' This approach helped the duo bridge the gap between alternative radio and hip-hop charts. Critically, the album was seen as a refreshing, albeit lightweight, alternative to the more serious 'street rap' of the era. It solidified Chiddy Bang's position as leaders of the 'frat rap' or 'college rap' movement, though their technical proficiency - particularly Chiddy's ability to maintain a fluid flow over complex, non-traditional time signatures - earned them respect beyond the party circuit. The EP remains a landmark of the Hype Machine era of music discovery.