Rufus Sims doubles down w/ release “Respectfully Disrespectful”

Chicago’s West Side has always had its griots & truth-tellers who translate struggle into scripture. Rufus Sims, formerly known as Weasel Sims, has become one of the sharpest among them. His latest single, “Respectfully Disrespectful”, featuring Machacha, Knowledge The Pirate, and Jae Haze, stands as a visceral meditation on balance, how to stay grounded in integrity while moving through a city that tests both patience and pride..

The phrase “respectfully disrespectful” hits like a coded Chicago proverb. It’s what happens when survival meets principle, when you’re forced to assert your truth even if it offends the room. Rufus turns that sentiment into a code of conduct, rapping from the position of a man who’s seen enough to know that respect, in these blocks, is currency. The song’s title isn’t just clever, it’s philosophy, a manifesto for the hustler who still carries morals in a world that rewards betrayal..

The beat walks the same line the lyrics do, tight, focused, and unbothered by trends. It’s drum heavy, low-lit, and steeped in a classic street rap ethos. There’s no trap sheen or pop gloss here, instead, the instrumental feels like the inside of a slow burning car ride through West Garfield Park at dusk. The sample hums beneath the verses, giving space for every emcee to leave blood on the mic. Rufus Sims’ verse anchors the record, his tone calm but commanding, his flow a study in control. There’s that trademark weariness in his cadence, the sound of a man who’s both student and survivor of the city. He’s not glorifying the lifestyle, he’s documenting its cost..

Then comes Machacha, whose production threads in a transatlantic edge, proof that the pain and pride of hip-hop’s lower frequencies aren’t bound by geography. Knowledge The Pirate slides in like the elder statesman of the cipher. His name carries weight in New York’s underground, and his verse mirrors that legacy, precise, image heavy, and rich in coded realism. It’s a perfect counterbalance to Rufus’ grounded Chicago storytelling. Jae Haze closes the circle with sharpness throughout his chorus, his presence understated but effective, a reminder that every corner of the Midwest has its lyricists waiting to detonate..

In a rap landscape obsessed with algorithms and aesthetics, “Respectfully Disrespectful” is refreshingly human. It’s flawed, raw, and full of character, like Chicago itself. Rufus Sims doesn’t aim for perfection, he aims for presence. And on this record, he’s fully here. For those who know Rufus’ catalog this single continues his lineage of unfiltered street gospel. For new listeners, it’s a perfect entry point, a sharp, uncompromising look into the ethos of Chicago’s independent hip-hop renaissance..

Take a listen & let us know what you think..