Submuloc is the chosen moniker of white rapper Nate Frase from Columbus, who has
built up a large following on YouTube in the past few years. Of course, any male
white rapper is likely to be compared to Eminem but while Submuloc has a similar
lyrical dexterity and flowing style, as well as an element of humour, the content is
more intelligent and less aggressive, probably closer to a rapper like Mackelmore.
Wildflowers is a good showcase for his abilities, starting humorously by ad libbing
over the intro. The sound is surprisingly musical for the genre, with strummed
acoustic guitar and a subtle synth riff leading into a mid-paced but compelling hiphop
beat. In the first verse, Submuloc quickly paints a vivid picture of a failed
relationship, numbing his pain with drugs knowing his lost love is seeing other men
(‘sucking smoke down my throat to kill these butterflies’).
Rather than the egotistical style of bragging as adopted by many rappers, Submuloc is
humble and reflective on this track and the catchy hook of the chorus has a certain
profundity: ‘It’s never the catch, it’s the thrill of the chase, wildflowers don’t belong in
a vase…some things don’t belong in a cage and words don’t belong on a page, it’s just
the way of the world….’.
The second verse explains how he fell for her with impressive rhyming skills (‘I
confess you had me vexed when you never answered my texts’) and how his own
failings of character were responsible for the breakdown of the relationship: ‘A love so
strong can make you blind and delirious, took it too serious, chemistry dissolved the
pain, I called you names, I became a ball and chain’. That kind of honesty and selfawareness
is not too common in any music, let alone in rap music, and should be
applauded.
The last verse ties up the tale nicely with a hopeful tone and words that are genuinely
poetic ( ‘I know the winter snow turns to spring showers and turns to summer sun, it’s
sure to bring flowers..although we were divided by the seasons, being reunited gives
me something to believe in..’). Overall, this is a superb track that matches memorable
music with inventive and emotive words, and with Eminem’s best years behind him
now perhaps it is Submuloc’s turn soon to take up his mantle.
