Many years ago, the Pittsburgh producer Girl Talk was the master of the jittery ADD mash-up barrage. Since then, he’s reinvented himself as more of a regular beatmaker with a whole lot of collaborations under his belt. A couple of years ago, Girl Talk teamed up with Wiz Khalifa, Big K.R.I.T., and Smoke DZA for the album Full Court Press. Earlier this year, he released the T-Pain/Yaeji collab “Believe In Ya.” Now, he’s got a new single with Houston underground rap monster Sauce Walka.
Sauce Walka is a chaotic, charismatic figure. He releases a lot of music, more than you can properly absorb, and a lot of it is great. He also lives a truly chaotic life. Earlier this year, Sauce Walka survived a targeted shooting in Memphis; one of his proteges, the 27-year-old rapper Sayso P, was killed. Last month, KHOU reported that Sauce Walka avoided prison after pleading guilty for a 2023 incident where he apparently led police on a chase that reached speeds of 130 MPH. The man can really rap, and he always brings the feeling of being barely in control of anything happening in his life.
On the new single “Real Life,” Girl Talk provides a soulful beat that’s more melodic and triumphant than anything Sauce Walka might otherwise use. He responds by getting reflective, talking about growing up poor and stressed-out. In a press release, Girl Talk says, “I went down to Houston to meet up with Sauce Walka at his studio, the Sauce Factory. I’ve been a fan for a number of years, so I was excited to finally meet up in person. He really delivered. I love his energy and detailed wordplay. He poured so much into this record. I love how it turned out.”
Check out the “Real Life” video below.
