Bob Dylan’s Rapping Grandson Has A New Song Called “Midnight”

Bob Dylan is nothing if not prolific. Since 1963's The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, the legendary singer-songwriter has released no fewer than 35 studio albums--not to mention his writing work for other artists. Not everything runs in the family, though. Dylan's grandson, Pablo, is attempting to carve out a name for himself as a rapper, and if you ask him, less is more. Three years after his debut mixtape, 10 Minutes, Pablo Dylan is back with his first new offering, the self-produced "Midnight."

"I just locked myself in my fucking lair, bro," the 19-year-old told Rolling Stone. "I've made made music 16 hours a day for the last three years. It's literally my life." Exaggerated? Possibly, but that five-beats-a-day-for-three-summers work ethic is what you need to live up to such a lauded family name.

Despite support from his grandfather (“He’s the first person to say, ‘Oh, Pablo, you’re doing well.’”), the younger Dylan wants to carve out his own empire. “I mean this in the least arrogant way possible,” he says. “What Rick Rubin did with Def Jam, that’s my vision. I want to create a real cultural movement.” And while conjuring a fundamental shift in urban music out of thin air is near-impossible, Pablo is eager to take on the challenge. What he lacks in rags-to-riches narrative, he hopes to make up for in sheer force of will.

"10 Minutes wasn't really up to that level of quality [that I wanted]," Dylan says. "It was really important to me to take my time and say, 'Nothing else matters.'" “Midnight” is nothing if not en vogue, a synth-driven track that underscores its disjointed braggadocio raps with pitched-down vocal distortion. Dylan has yet to announce details about an accompanying full-length project, but hopes to have an LP out in 2015. –Paul Thompson

 Previously: Bob Dylan’s Grandson Is A Rapper
Maya Angelou’s Grandson Will Drop A Rap Album Inspired By Her