Wowwwwwwwww. It’s been a while huh?
Ah yes. Welcome back to another “Songs of the Week”. Admittedly, I wasn’t on my shit with these like I should. But it’s all okay because I am done bullshitting now. This week’s list is mostly brought to you by our writer Ahd, who’s unique pen has made me want to step my game up. She’s got a great ear for music and a soul that’s more pure than many of your church’s pastors. I gave her a chance to pick her own 4 songs, with a 5th being added by me. I hope you all enjoy these as much as we do. More to come soon, not even lying this time. – Oba
Seasons change into themselves, distance and time seem the answer and problem to everything. What lends itself to be dry and grating for countless days comes to reveal itself in months to be a glistening rain of opportunity. Conversations become streaming creeks again and all body of water presents itself as a spiritual call for transition. The question is asked and answered, “Do you believe in what you see?” and the statement “everyones saying different things to me” loops itself. A song that urges you to press replay in its reflection, contemplation and pondering of potentials and possibilities. Intensely personal albeit subjective in the listeners interpretations, a song that represents a past, a present and does not allow escape for what’s to be in coming times. A weighted yet simple all encompassing title for a question we can’t avoid asking ourselves: what are you in the waiting line for?
Playboi Carti & YoungBoy Never Broke Again – ALIVE
Yet another thrilling drop from the constantly unexpected Playboi Carti – his themes remain the same yet his actions, and presentation of them persist the question of “what he will do next?”. A common theme amongst fans no matter how great irregardless of the feeling evoked from past projects, negative or positive, the mystique continues to lure you. How will he disappoint, confuse or impress again? Or will it, as it has been before, a cumulation akin to a gamble each time? Will you leave the table at your next loss or continue to invest your interests?
As with his recent surprise Instagram and YouTube drops the video is yet another documentation of his excess, and the only thing asked of the viewer is to immerse themself entirely into his world and the abundance he thrives in. A simple message: ‘you’re not me’ – you don’t have access to what he does and even if you did the dish could never be served the same way he’s prepared it as he states explicitly himself, “Tryna out guap me that’s impossible let’s talk about it”. DJ Swamp Izzo makes a greatly welcomed return as the omnipresent like addition to the track while NBA YoungBoy hammers at a steady and strong pace throughout the first minute and 40 seconds. In comes Carti, leaning comfortably into his deep brooding voice. Despite a comparably weaker verse to the former, the song carries a haunted and focused sound, together the trio heightens their allure in what can easily be forgotten to be a diss track and instead an orchestra of their defining qualities and anomalies.
Editor’s note: Yo YB rapped his ass off here, his flow, breath control and overall energy is exuberant as fuck. Generational talent man.
Ne-Yo – Closer
A gem amongst gems in the many pop hits of 2008 and still a song that can be considered underrated in the appreciation of its qualities. Each instrument and vocal is entirely cohesive with one another and when listened to with intent each individual element can be heard in a battle to be the pronounced sound at any given second, from the moment the guitar can be heard you’re tantalized. Ne-Yo sings in his smooth gliding voice that parallels and jumps into, onto and throughout the beat of his described love affair, his pining rather than simply being heard fully interacts with the listener and really does hypnotize us in to understanding why he ‘’Just can’t stop!’’.
“Closer” is not to be misunderstood as the sound of sex itself, but rather the physical and emotional momentum of the electric and mystifying atmosphere that leads to the first touches.
J Dilla – Workinonit
J Dilla’s sound lives eternally through his final poignant album Donuts, and in its opening and longest track gives us the gift of all that’s fresh and lively in spite of the foundations of the song being a sample from just over 50 years ago with the 1974 folk rock song “The Worst Band In The World”.
Nettspend & xaviersobased – Impact
If you had to ask me how I felt about Nettspend just last year, I’d probably tell you he’s one of the worst artists to ever touch a microphone. As an aging young adult in his early 20s, I find it hard to connect with many of these younger artists who are popping their shit in music right now. Nettspend was no exception. The gibberish lyrics, wonky beat selection, and his overall style and direction turned me away completely.
If I’m going to be honest, I still don’t quite understand the hype, but I definitely appreciate its existence in the realm of hip-hop right now. Nettspend has this ability to draw a line in the sand between himself and his peers by doing what isn’t the norm. He makes crash course music. It’s the equivalent to watching a Monster Jam, just big ass trucks flying over ramps and slamming on dirt and shit. It’s nothing spectacular and can get old fast quick, but at it’s peak, it’s incredible. I wasn’t too enthused by BAD ASS F*CKING KID, but I was drawn to some of it’s unique beats (shoutout evilgiane of course) and it’s youthful charm. However, a single like this allows him to play to his strengths, even if it doesn’t feel like much. Maybe that’s the whole point. Shit, he sounds earnest in his vocality, singing “fake it ‘til you make it, Hollywood feeling”. Is this Nettspend reflecting on the facade of being a rapper in the 2020s? I’ve gotta hand it to him, he knows what he’s doing and he’s doing it excellently.