“See You Sweat”

The Arizona rap trio Injury Reserve emerged in 2014 as a jazzy alt-rap crew who sampled everything from f(x) and the Hics to the New Life Community Choir. Composed of the rappers Stepa J. Groggs and Ritchie With a T and the producer Parker Corey, the group’s initial projects were recorded after hours in Corey’s grandfather’s dentist office. Their debut album, 2016’s Floss, made the leap from jazz rap to “spazz rap,” as Ritchie tagged it, developing compositions that were weirder, bigger, and more complex. The group’s new track, “See You Sweat,” a playful spin on the Neptunes’ percussive early-Aughts hits, is somewhat of a departure from that; it’s a straightforward throwback that charms with its simplicity.

“See You Sweat” is a full-fledged gyrator that relies mostly on impact. Blows are delivered in a wave by slapping hand drums, siren bursts, and deep, swallowing bass. Corey does most of the work, whipping up the rhythm that Stepa and Ritchie meander inside. They’re still improving as rappers; their scene-setting can be colorless, and their boasts can be uninspired (“My lil bro just dropped your rent on denim”), but the two MCs complement each other well, trading relaxed, half-whispered raps that circle around in the rolling rush of drums. Together they make a strong team, and “See You Sweat,” is an infectious jam that almost demands movement.