Some people may be asking who will win this year's NBA championship. What if I told you it's a team that's already putting numbers on the board and looking to dominate? You might be asking who. Let me send you the link right now to a champion-tier album called DSF by Thedarkskinrapper and ripfrancis. Just looking at the album cover, you can tell this is going to be a basketball-themed project. What immediately catches the eye are two cartoon characters sitting in a Detroit Pistons locker room rocking Pistons jerseys. Closer inspection reveals the artists' names etched onto the lockers, while the tracklist rests on a sign next to Thedarkskinrapper's character on the floor. Even "Hooper" the Pistons' iconic horse mascot stands in the background with his arms folded. Meanwhile, the lettering on the classic NBA logo is flipped to read "DSF," a slick nod to the project title (and I'm guessing, short for "Dark Skin Francis"). One notable detail missing, however, is the third Larry O'Brien trophy from Detroit’s championship run. But getting into the album stats, the album clocks in at 8 tracks spanning just over 16 minutes. With the shortest, "Paul George" being just 1 minute and 26 seconds. Also, there is only 1 feature on the album. Now that that's over, let’s dive straight into the music. The title of the opening track, "28-3" reads more like a score than a song title, which could also be a nod to former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's legendary Super Bowl 51 comeback against the Atlanta Falcons. The track opens with familiar sports commentary that hype-checks the project, prepping us for the musical spectacle to come. When the somber beat drops, it sets up the iso play for Thedarkskinrapper to work. His laid-back, lulling delivery flows effortlessly from bar to bar, creating space for him to get to his spot and execute what can only be described as poetry in motion, a phrase I found myself coming back to continuously. Thedarkskinrapper is clearly just warming up on this record, but he still manages to sink a few quotable lines: "Check the score up on this shit, I ain’t going tit for tat." What makes the track even more compelling are the sports announcers running through the background, adding a textured layer of nostalgia that captures iconic moments, much like this tape aims to do for its listeners.
On the next track, "24TheNight" Thedarkskinrapper wastes no time attacking the beat like a driving shooting guard attacking the rim, eventually catching fire like a shooter in a rhythm. His delivery sharpens over a smooth R&B sample floating in the background. The slowed-down, crooning sample sets picks for him to continue his streak of syllable crossovers and no-look metaphors: "Get Aaliyah with shorty, she rockin’ the boat, Throw it in water and see if it float." This track could almost be compared to an after game press conference with Thedarkskinrapper telling everyone just how dominant his musical dominance has been. Which only being into track 2, I couldn't say he's wrong.
"If you need your numbers up, call me quick to hit your quota,
Rashad McCants, the former Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard, isn't the usual athlete you expect to inspire a song title but then again, nothing about Thedarkskinrapper is usual. "Minnesota/McCants" kicks off with a classic feel, pairing a nostalgic boom-bap hip-hop bounce with a soulful vocal sample. Thedarkskinrapper continues to execute at an elite level. Some may remember that McCants had to bounce back from media scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Khloé Kardashian, questions about his dedication, and millions lost to financial fraud, I don't think anyone questions Thedarkskinrapper's commitment to his craft even on the track he stays resilient, navigating the beat like a star point guard breaking down a defense with his handles. He boasts: "If you need your numbers up, call me quick to hit your quota, Talkin' shit and ballin' hard like shooting guards in Minnesota." Halfway through, the track hits a beat switch where he puts his versatility on full display as he drops more braggadocious lines: "Could've really put prices on niggas, but I'm baggin', Just throw on my mic hat, get too good on the beats with the smooth, got a young nigga feelin' like Mike Jac." This is a track that shines as a standout because of his delivery and versatility. Let me know if you can hear the same words I'm hearding.
An intriguing sonic battle takes place on Track 4, "Paul George" where Thedarkskinrapper's hard-hitting, fast-paced bars clash against a smooth, slower-tempo soulful sample. Instead of taking turns, the two overlap, creating collisions where Thedarkskinrapper draws the blocking foul, and other times where the beat draws the charge. The title itself adds another layer: Paul George played two standout seasons with the OKC Thunder before leaving for the LA Clippers, serving as the undisputed star during his time in Oklahoma. Similarly, Thedarkskinrapper briefly took his talents elsewhere relocating to Chicago before returning to OKC where he, like George, aims to be the main event. He spits: "Get a little, these niggas is cap, Hate to say it, they playing the backdrop, Type of nigga I practice a bad shot, Number one, you niggas is have-nots." This line serves as a sharp, painful callback to Damian Lillard's legendary 37-foot series-clinching buzzer-beater over George to eliminate the Thunder in Game 5, a play George famously dismissed to post-game press as a "bad shot."
5'9 in the frame,
Track 5, "R1P1" returns to the classic boom-bap production established on "Minnesota/McCants". The title stands for "Round 1, Pick 1", referred to as the first pick in the NBA draft. Thedarkskinrapper brings that exact high-stakes energy, rapping about the pressure that comes with carrying first-round expectations. His delivery reads like a training montage of a franchise player in the gym putting in work. Yet, he also proves he's a team player, dropping the line: "Get the team all aligned, niggas never moved divided." That bar tags in the project's first featured artist, Neph, who takes a commanding stance on the track like a power forward asserting dominance in the paint. Neph reflects on the highs and lows of the artist's hustle while showcasing his ability to switch flows and navigate the beat with an aggressive offensive mindframe: "Now I know that I'm awkward, Yo, these pictures I portray for you are more starving artists." Also check out the video below:
"LEVERAGE" features production that sounds like it came straight out of 1980s Miami Vice soundtrack, with breezy, tropical-themed drums and warm brass creating a leisurely backdrop. Meanwhile, Thedarkskinrapper raps with the supreme confidence of the league's reigning MVP. Fittingly, he references the iconic number 23—a nod to LeBron James taking his talents to South Beach, as he asserts: "Any team that I’m on is the best fit." He continues this best in the league mentality throughout the verse, boasting, "Game on the line, my nigga, you see your boy eat in the 4th." His lone verse hits like a walk-off, no-look three-pointer, as if he knows he executed flawlessly as he leaves the track, and with nothing left to prove as an answering machine picks up to confirm he's already answered the call.
When people talk about a player being so fast, they blow right by you that’s the exact speed of "LIVE5". Thedarkskinrapper opens the track by locking in on defense, setting a firm line in the sand: "I’ll probably take a fine, I'll cross that line, I ain’t gone play wit ya." As every hoops fan knows, defense creates offense. Right after that bar, he catches a steal and sparks a one-man fast break, pouring in bar after bar. Before you even look up, he’s already 12-bars deep. The beat can only watch in awe as he breezes through, capping off the run with some heavy-hitting quotes: "Real nigga like me, know I’m asking a fee, If I’m being polite, I might ask for a G. Fuck it, max it out, I’m asking for 3" and "Actin’ like hoes, they’ll give you a scene." These bars pull spin moves around the laid-back piano and jazz horns, showcasing his court vision as he scores another standout track.
Time's just a thang,
​It's only fitting that the album closes with "last dance" which may be a nod to the iconic sports documentary centering on Michael Jordan's final championship run with the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls. Thedarkskinrapper confirms this suspicion with his opening bar, "Committed to it all, like it's my last season," also in the bar, "Michael Jordan to the Hornets, never went and sold the team, champ level in this shit, I talk it and I show the ring." The track feels deeply reflective while simultaneously dropping hints about where his career is headed. Toward the end, he delivers a sobering realization: "Shit be up to you, you can only let yourself down." You have to wonder if that's the exact mantra he recites in the gym every night as he works toward greatness. Also, with Russell Westbrook recently announcing his retirement, if this is truly Russ's last dance, this track deserves a spot on his playlist.
Hip-hop and basketball are two worlds that have always bled into one another—from NBA star Damian Lillard dropping rap songs to Master P playing in the NBA. DSF is a pure representation of that crossover, where beats and buckets combine to create art that both cultures can be proud of. The sports-centric concept is reinforced across the entire album through commentary snippets, pre-game interview clips, and Thedarkskinrapper’s relentless barrage of sports bars, not to mention the visual easter eggs packed into the cover art and tracklist. Each track feels like a clutch regular-season moment building toward a championship run. My only real critique comes during a few brief moments where Thedarkskinrapper's voice dips into a faint volume where you know a bar is there, but can't quite catch every word. It's like calling a travel on a speedy NBA guard who's he moving so fast you can't tell if it's a travel or just a slick gather step. Either way, when you sit down with DSF, you're getting a cohesive project with high replay value, combined with an all-star lyricist bringing top-tier metaphors and a Mamba Mentality. DSF is the kind of project that leaves you asking: "Where were you when DSF dropped?"​
Checkout Thedarkskinrapper and ripfrancis new album DSF below and let us know what you think! ​ - DSF on Spotify here. - DSF on Apple Music here. - DSF on YouTube here. - DSF on SoundCloud here. Also make sure you follow them both on Instagram: The darkskinrapper's Instagram: @thedarkskinrapper ripfrancis Instagram: @ripfrancis_
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