A selection of songs that I’ve been listening to recently by Black artists
“Bikini Bottom” – Ice Spice: Unless you’ve been hiding out in a hyperbaric chamber for the past couple of months, you know who Ice Spice is. The queen of New York drill has been the focal point, for better or worse, of a great deal of attention online, primarily for her uber-catchy, male-deriding hit “Munch (Feelin’ U).” Her gift for crafting brief, whimsical speaker-shakers is more than apparent on her much-anticipated follow-up, “Bikini Bottom.” With a thesis as clear as day (“How can I lose if I’m already chose?”) and downright silly production, “Bikini Bottom” is a spectacular hit. Despite the bevy of misogynoir-fueled slander she’s received online, Ice Spice’s unshakeable confidence and innate charisma shines through. She provides an endless stream of positive affirmations and egregious flexes in each bar, punctuating each of her verses with an endearing “like?” No matter how you slice it, Ice Spice is here to stay, and rap as a whole is better for it.
“Peppas” – Westside Gunn & Black Star: The extension of #realhiphop’s legacy into the social media era seems to rest solely on the shoulders of Griselda Records and its affiliates. The Buffalo-based collective is the current epicentre of gritty and visceral lyricism, and its de facto leader, Westside Gunn, has that lyricism in spades. His knack for witty wordplay, an endless supply of sports references, and adlibs that have been a continuous source of parody and homage online, shine through on “Peppas,” a track off of his 2022 release 10. Though its chopped-up soul production is immaculate, what makes “Peppas” stand out is the presence of Black Star (Yasiin Bey, Talib Kweli). The duo responsible for arguably the most inaccessible project rollout in recent memory (you’ll never catch me subscribing to Luminary just to hear an album) knock their guest verses out of the park with their trademark gusto and consciousness.
“I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)” – Stevie Wonder: A staple in my own rotation, Talking Book celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last month (highly encourage all readers to check out the New York Times’ Popcast episode about the album). Released in the midst of an album run that would come to define the contours of popular music for years to come, Talking Book is an amalgam of R&B, jazz-fusion, and soul that reflected a considerable shift away from the Motown sound that defined his earlier work. The album’s closer, “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever),” is rich with intricate songwriting, and dense, multi-layered instrumentation. The song begins as a slow-burning ballad about the beauty of love, but in its final act, it devolves into funk-filled chaos. Tonally shifting from optimism to despair, Stevie Wonder is down horrendously, pleading incessantly for his romantic interest to reciprocate his love.
“Can We” – SWV & Missy Elliott: 90s R&B in all its permutations holds a special place in my heart. The simultaneous ascendance of hip-hop pushed the genre’s sonic palette in a multitude of directions, all of which reverberate into the present. One of the songs where hip-hop’s influence is readily apparent is “Can We.” The legendary R&B trio SWV (Coko, Taj, and Lelee) absolutely slides over the track’s futuristic, hip-hop laden production from Timbaland. The group’s near-celestial vocals and the track’s breezy, straightforward hook about desire coalesce into a song with endless replay value. To top it off, Missy Elliott, at the peak of her powers post-Supa Dupa Fly, delivers a memorable guest verse that further accentuates the song’s subject matter.
“Whip Appeal” – Frank Ocean: Being a Frank Ocean fan requires an unnerving, almost saint-like level of patience. Every so often, the reclusive artist will surface with a new edition of his esoteric and cryptic radio show on Apple Music, teasing the possibility of new music without ever delivering. Since his 2016 releases of Endless and Blonde, Ocean has released only a handful of loosies and guest features, leaving people like myself to listen to his deep back-catalogue on repeat. For me, one of those songs is “Whip Appeal.” A reference to a Babyface song with the same name, “Whip Appeal” is a marked departure from the emotional weightiness that the bulk of his music possesses. He sings in a carefree manner about allowing a romantic interest to drive his car, over uncharacteristically upbeat production rife with catchy synths and punchy, hard-hitting drums. If you have yet to venture down the rabbit hole that is the Frank Ocean catalogue, “Whip Appeal” is a great place to begin.
“Middle of the Ocean” – Drake: Deep underneath Drake’s penchant for punching down (the line about Megan Thee Stallion on “Circo Loco” is truly reprehensible) and seemingly endless barrages of PR stunts, is the unavoidable truth that Drake can actually rap. Every once in a while, Drake sets aside his desire to pander to the masses, hops on a slow, soulful beat, and does a compelling Jay-Z impression. Faux-introspective and boastful, “Middle of the Ocean” sees Drake get off a litany of clever one-liners, over a truly immaculate sample of “Cry Together” by the O’Jays. He name-checks the unscrupulous Patriots owner Robert Kraft as his wealthy peer, rattles off indicators of wealth that you’ve likely never heard of before, and sneers at men who can’t afford to treat their girlfriends to meals nicer than hibachi (this one felt particularly personal). Outside of a couple groanworthy bars (leave Serena Williams alone!), “Middle of the Ocean” is a high water mark on Her Loss.
“Flyest of my Generation” – BlueBucksClan: BlueBucksClan is a Los Angeles-based rap duo consisting of MCs Jeezy and DJ, known for their irreverent humour, love of sports, and innate chemistry. The group first appeared on my radar after their LA Leakers freestyle, in which DJ hilariously took aim at a particular French NBA journeyman (“Fourth quarter yelling why Batum in” stays on continuous loop in my brain whenever I watch Clippers highlights). BlueBucksClan released Clan Way 3 at the end of October, an outlandish and enjoyable listen. Its first track, “Flyest of my Generation” sees the duo doing what they do best. They trade verses about their obscene wealth, boast about their philandering ways (“Can’t settle down, if I do it’d be with Doja Cat”), and flex their encyclopedic sports knowledge via obscure references (“Hit her with the coldest spin, Braxton Miller”). If you’re in pursuit of a good time, BlueBucksClan is where it’s at.