RVA hip hop mixtape review: Chud – ‘Class Of 2014 – The High School Tape’

by | May 1, 2015 | COMMUNITY

I remember when I was about to FINALLY escape High School.

It felt like I had been there forever.


I remember when I was about to FINALLY escape High School.

It felt like I had been there forever.

The excitement of not really knowing what’s next, the hunger to own my identity and making the necessary mistakes to get there; the unsettling truth that nothing that had mattered will really matter anymore looming in the back of mind.

So when I went into Chud’s ‘Class Of 2014 The High School Tape’, that’s where I put myself.

Now upfront, as we often said about school at the time, this thing is way too long. At 22 tracks I often found myself looking at the clock. I couldn’t help but feel like Chud, as a person, really just wanted to get it all out, where as an artist, he would have been a lot more successful in being selective in what made the final cut.

Another problem for me is that this project is comprised of nothing but industry beats, which is cool – I mean I get that you gotta work with what you got – but these are mostly very recognizable beats.

If you’re going to dig in the crates, dig.

Girls, school, classes, when it comes to the rhymes Chud does alright and conceptually he does stick to the program all the way though, but at the end of the day like a high school senior in the real world, I walked away feeling like Chud has much to learn.

While I can’t really pick a stand out record on here, I do look forward to seeing what grown man Chud comes up with next, as I’m sure now that he’s out here in the real world with the rest of us he knows all to well that a piece of paper with words written on it is never enough.

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner is the former editor of GayRVA and RVAMag from 2013 - 2017. He’s now the Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, a state-wide NPR outlet based in Roanoke. You can reach him at BradKutnerNPR@gmail.com




more in community

The Fight Over Who Gets to Sell Weed

A recent report by Radio IQ suggests Virginia lawmakers are once again inching toward a legal recreational marijuana market, this time through the state budget process. Following Governor Abigail Spanberger's veto, Senate Democrats have threatened to fold retail...

Three Tall Ships, One River, 250 Years of American History

Editor's Note: RVA Magazine is partnering with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on coverage related to America's 250th anniversary, including Richmond SailFest and the upcoming IllumiNation. Also, filmmaker Justin Black of Headwaters Down is sailing aboard...

Richmond’s Funniest Weekend Returns With 2nd Best Comedy Fest

It’s time for the 9th Annual 2nd Best Comedy Fest running June 11–13, 2026. The Coalition Theater hosts this annual event, and is the brick-and-mortar heart of Richmond's alternative comedy ecosystem. Calling it the 2nd Best Fest is a beautifully defensive undersell...

Local, Latino and A New Richmond Cosmos

Tucked into the alley behind 2512 West Main Street, a fever dream of the cosmos has taken shape across a brick wall. The mural is the collaborative work of four Latino artists working in and around Richmond: Visibly Hidden, Monolith, Mars, and Sol. A distant Earth...

The Mayor of Sunny Mart

There are certain people who become part of a neighborhood so slowly that nobody notices it happening until one day they realize the place would feel strange without them.   If you’ve spent enough time around The Fan late at night, then you probably know Sunny Mart....

Sojourner Truth and Why Her Story Still Matters

Editor's Note: This is a companion piece to our preview of Songs of Truth, the new musical inspired by the life of Sojourner Truth. This essay from Christian Detres takes a closer look at the woman behind the legend and the enduring relevance of her story. Sojourner...

Replanting His Life in America, Leaving Behind Everything He Knew

Following is an updated excerpt from the book, Portraits of Immigrant Voices, in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month, which is celebrated during the month of June throughout the United States to honor the contributions and resilience of the newcomers who have shaped our...