Belvedere - Boldy James
Off Boldy’s 2020 collab with The Alchemist The Price of Tea in China, we get a dreary look back at his past describing his precarious life of crime and how now he’s worried about his past catching up with him and getting killed like his brothers before.
An Argument With Myself - Jens Lekman
From the Swedish artist Jens Lekman we get a story about a drunken walk around Melbourne in a catchy pop tune more reminiscent of getting lost in some Eastern European city more than Australia.
Thug Lovin’ - Ja Rule ft. Bobby Brown
The first single off 2002’s The Last Temptation we get a classic 2000s jam built off a Stevie Wonder sample that can be heard directly at 1:22. The chorus sung by Bobby Brown is an interpolation of the Stevie Wonder song “Knocks me off my Feets”.
Non Compos Mentis - Haiku D’Etat
Non Compos Mentis, a latin legal phrase for not being sane or in your right mind saw mainstream popularity thanks to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series. The LA trio pulls its name from a play on the French phrase “Coup d'état,” or insurrection.
Martyrs - Mick Jenkins
Southside’s Mick Jenkins received a huge increase in attention after this single released in 2013 addressing gun violence, his life growing up in Chicago and changing as he gained more fame and attention through intricate lyricism and frequent use of water as a theme.