MFMM August 2019

(my favorite music of the month)

Music! delivered! to! your! inbox! every! month! but! never! on! time! Please enjoy my picks from August and share with any of your friends who like music or me. As always, here is a Spotify playlist of the tracks to listen to as you read:

Be Honest – Jorja Smith & Burna Boy

Jorja Smith has blessed us with a new track for the first time since 2018’s Lost & Found at the perfect time. “Be Honest” is the quintessential summer bop, starring an upbeat instrumental that teleports listeners to a sweltering beach.

The tune straddles genres, incorporating dancehall sounds and Afrobeats into Smith’s more traditional R&B sound. The guitar (?) lead is bright and bouncy, accenting the lyrical performances delightfully.

There is something special about Smith’s almost flat sounding delivery. Even when she’s hitting high notes and deftly switching speeds, it all sounds detached in a way that only increases her allure. The lyrics themselves are playful but belie some deeper discussions on the challenge of finding genuine connections.

“Be honest,” Smith presses in the hook, “You want this / But I can be heartless / Regardless of my conscience.”

Burna Boy, the Nigerian sensation fresh off the release of his massive project African Giant, glides in with a feature that sticks to the flirty theme of the track while adding a new dimension of sound. His vocal riffs on the final hook create probably the single most enjoyable moment of the track.

Unrelated – can someone fact check that Jorja Smith exists? I’m not convinced.

Boy Bye – Brockhampton

Your favorite boy band is back after a well-deserved break with a new album that recaptures some of the things that made the Saturation trilogy such an exciting moment. Rocked by the expulsion of Ameer Vann, Brockhampton has taken a while to get back on their feet and adjust to their newfound fame. That recovery is explored in depth on Ginger, their most personal album yet.

“Boy Bye” tackles the mental health struggles of the group head on. “Everybody  ask me how I deal with my depression / Man  look, man, I don't got the answer to your question,” Dom McLennon says at the onset of the track, before hinting at how music has become an outlet for the members to address their issues: “If I did, you would probably never hear from me again.”

Trauma is the defining feature of verses from Kevin Abstract and Bearface, while Matt Champion talks about deflecting external criticism.

All of this introspection and soul searching happens over some fantastic production. Romil Hemnani, Jabari Manwa, and Kiko Merley remain one of the most exciting and creative production teams out. The frenetic percussion sets the tone of “Boy Bye,” accented by a playful melody on what sounds like a picked guitar.

Coming Home – Pusha T & Ms. Lauryn Hill (prod. Kanye West)

A leak of “Coming Home” has been floating around the internet for a while but now, because Pusha T is gracious god, it is out in all its CDQ glory on all streaming platforms. The track has been rumored to be a loosie from the Daytona sessions, but could not sound more different (within the spectrum of Pusha T songs).

Push takes a break from cocaine raps on this track to tackle black disenfranchisement and roadblocks to freedom. He gives an shoutout to D.C. incarceration activist Tony Lewis in the first verse while calling for the release of long sentence drug offenders before delving into the difficulties of pursuing education while in and out jail. He also asks listeners to view these issues from the perspective of someone going through them.

It’s 2019 - any Lauryn Hill feature is a blessing. Ms. Hill’s vocal performance is a wonderful call for radical love as an antidote to the impacts of systemic issues.

Kanye West’s production is reminiscent of his Late Registration era cuts (with the addition of 808s) and man, I missed the chop up the beats Kanye. The soaring soul sample transports you right back to early 2000’s bling rap vibes, adding to the triumphant mood of “Coming Home.”

Note: The song was released as part of “Third Strike Campaign,” a project to free those serving life sentences under the three strikes law which you can read more about here.

If U Say – Blackmilk & BJ The Chicago Kid

Detroit rap, producer, and all around talent Black Milk has been on the cutting edge of rap for verging on 20 years now. On his newest project DiVE, he continues to branch out and explore new sounds. While “If U Say” might not be the most adventurous cut from the album, it is the one I’ve found myself coming back to the most.

Black Milk has a penchant for creating uniquely vibrant soundscapes, and “If U Say” is no exception. The heavily layered synths and piano melody combine beautifully before being taken to the next level by the low, pulsating base line.

In his verses, the Detroit stalwart reflects on his successes and the circumstances that made them possible. “Damn, everything from before seem gone now,” he remarks. “So I put the memories in a song now.”

BJ The Chicago Kid delivers a silky smooth performance on this cut with a chorus that preaches pursuing your goals even when the going gets tough. His vocal riffs throughout the track contribute to the rich atmosphere, leveling up a sound that’s already decadent.

Indigo – NIKI

Niki’s first single since her sophomore EP wanna take this downtown? is a straight up bop. “Indigo” is built around a buoyant instrumental blend of R&B and pop, which has become the 20-year-old’s calling card.

The undisputed queen of management label 88rising, perhaps between known for artists like Rich Brian and Joji, has an incredible voice that just floats right over the beat. Niki’s vocal range and dexterous delivery skills are on full display, and provide just another reason why she has a bright future.

The lyrics are a flirty trip through a night of getting high and testing temptations and vices. Niki’s chorus is a highlight of the track, letting her flex her chords.

If you’re a sucker for pop-y R&B like I am it’s worth keeping an eye out Niki’s work.

Motivation – Normani

Former Fifth Harmony members are getting far too powerful. Normani, the second member of the super group to go solo after Camila Cabello, released her first feature-less single this month and absolutely blew up the internet.

“Motivation” is instantly catchy. The 90s/early 00s inspired hip hop beat is impossible not to at least bounce your head to and features a nice trumpet breakdown.   

Normani’s fun and flirty lyrics touch on wanting to keep her partner motivated during the early stages of a relationship. “Why would we ever do something instead of / Fallin’ into the bed right now?” she sings in the pre-chorus, practically brimming with joy.

The influence of co-writer Ariana Grande, who Normani opened for on tour last year, is all over the track, especially in the vocal delivery and flourishes. “Motivation” is a perfect song to end the summer with, but also makes it clear that Normani won’t be a one season wonder.

Naeem – Bon Iver

The roll out for Bon Iver’s fourth album i,i was one of the stranger ones for the group, with the project being released three weeks earlier than expected. It seems like the band thought they were sitting on something great, and boy were they right. The album is the Justin Vernon-lead band’s most honest and open, tackling topics from climate change to Donald Trump.

“Naeem” is my favorite cut from the project and the one that puts Vernon most at the forefront (these two things are undoubtedly related).

His raw emotion is on full display in the vocal performance, especially in the final version of the chorus when his booming voice is almost drowned out by a triumphant swell of instrumentation.

“Tell them I’ll be passing on / Tell them we’re young mastodons,” he sings in the final verse, sounding on the verge of tears. The chanting of “I can hear crying” is similarly powerful and moving.

Cycling back to the instrumentation really quick: the steel drums keeping pace, the backing choir, the guitar lead, and the horns all work together amazingly, making “Naeem” feel almost like a gospel track.

For those of you keeping track at home: I’m cheating a little here, because technically “Naeem” was performed for the first time way back in 2017. However, this version is significantly different and i,i is the first time the track is on an official Bon Iver release.

North – Clairo

In a little over a year, Clairo has successfully transformed from a lovable DIY bedroom pop artist with some loose tracks on SoundCloud to a lovable accomplished indie artist with a robust discography for a 20-year-old.

That’s not to say the talent wasn’t there – “Pretty Girl” was my most listened song of 2018 (feel free to roast me) and tapped into genuine feelings in a powerful way – but Immunity, with the cadre of genre stalwarts assisting throughout, is clear step forward. 

On “North,” Clairo is at her moody best. The track explores unease with opening up. “I never let anybody in / Somehow you got under my skin,” she wistfully sings in the chorus. Clairo then has to grapple with having let her guard down and developing feelings.

The hook is the best part of the song and reminds us of Clairo’s rare ear for vocal melodies. I’ve caught myself whistling the descending line at the start of the hook, “I just want to let you know,” too many times to count already.

The production, with assistance from Rostam Batmanglij and Peter Cottontale, features a lo-fi, somewhat crunchy, guitar loop draped over a simple drum pattern which stays squarely in the background of Clairo’s vocals.