What's good everyone? A lot has happened in the past couple of days. Lil Yachty released his album, Logic released his Bobby Tarantino 2 album, and SZA has released bonus tracks and verses from her Ctrl album. Exciting things!! However... I've been thinking about International Women's Day, about the great woman in music that inspire me every day. I went looking through the top charts on Spotify for R&B, Rap, Hip Hop playlists looking for SZA, Rihanna, and women in general who are major influencers. I was sorely disappointed to find that almost all the songs were by men. Those names who I love weren't getting much of the shine they deserve. 'Tis a tale as old as time though. I wanted to give this moment to cherish those whose craft stands out. Music is as powerful a communication tool and creative outlet as painting or photography. To the women in our lives, forever and always. I'm a huge fan of many women in the music industry, and one of those lovelies is SZA. I have been a fan since her Z album, and everything she has done since has made me a wholehearted supporter. I'd like to share some of my favorite songs of hers, why she is such an inspiration, and why she deserves even more than what she is being served right now. Done with these n*ggas First of all, this video is absolutely stunning. I love the aesthetic of her with the butterflies, and Travis joining, just existing. It gives a vibe of existing in the moment, like a slow motion version of exactly right now. Whatever right now is. When I first watched the video, I was pretty into it, like okay I can roll with this. The end completely threw me off and I loved it even more because of that. So that's cool. The single album cover is super beautiful too. I personally loved it so much, I went looking for stickers music related and found the single album cover on Redbubble. It's almost like little metaphors, with varying influences of importance on your daily life, but nonetheless plays a factor. I have no idea the inspiration, but that's what I like to think of. Her single cover designer also designed her tour poster. The link to the Instagram should be active if you click on either picture, allowing you to check out the artist herself. I guess I fell in love with Love Galore immediately. She hadn't even released her album yet, it was only her single, and I was bumpin' that shit for months before the album release. Sometimes you know a banger when you hear one! I appreciate her graceful approach of take me or leave. My next song of hers from this album that I died over was Doves in the Wind featuring Kendrick Lamar. These two have collaborated previously on her album "Z" on the song called Babylon. Real spicy (the video gave me hella wide eyes), but this right here is the good good we all should get behind. How many niggas get mistaken for clitoris in a day? Like truly, how fucking savage. I love that Kendrick hypes it up as well. The rhythm and flow, powerful ass bars. This song is the a neatly wrapped gift, ends tucked in nice and neat, but is so underrated for how perfect it is. It's not big and flashy, but bold. I def fuck wit bold. *major heart eyes* My other favorite song off this album is Normal Girl. Probably not the most artistically metaphorical or interpretative, but that's okay. I genuinely enjoy it. She did not make one bad song off this whole project, so the "best" songs are only based off personal preference in my opinion.
Normal girl I love the flow of this as well. The background has a light twinkle sound, almost magical, like running through a green pasture in the spring, but the reason you're running is because you're a princess running away from the burdening responsibilities of the kingdom, and you def just want to run off wit yo' man. Almost a Sound of Music/Julie Andrews scene. Makes me feel a little wistful. The interview is on the Breakfast Club as she talks about her album and the meanings of different songs, her background and whatnot. The video is very long, but it should start right at the part where they begin to talk about the meaning and interpretations behind Normal Girl. This woman is an artist of melody and rhythm. The vibes are wavvy, able to transport you to another dimension completely. I cannot wait for more from this gift of a human. Legit, this girl is real af. The rest of her post can be found on her Instagram, linked if you click on the picture. She is transparent enough to allow you to understand her honest struggles in justifying making music still. She almost quit making music. I also have so much love and appreciation for her style. Her hair is her trademark at this point- well known for having big natural hair- and a comfortable but edgy fashion sense. Her aesthetic is ethereal and grounded at the same time. She puts off this angelic vibe but also very secure in her sense of individuality. I respect that a lot. Her Instagram is one of the best displays of that, but I would like to share some of these beautiful examples. This video link magnifies it. These last few pictures came from a Fader article about her album Ctrl - link in pictures. She has a dark sweetness that is alluring.
In addition to her album, she has featured on some poppin' ass songs. 1. Consideration - Rihanna (btw this video is fukin DOPE AF and kinda weird/ not sure if official but looks like it) 2. All the Stars -Kendrick Lamar (my heart hurt watching this video out of love, symbolism, and vivid visual quality) 3. The Need to Know - Wale 4. 9 - Willow Smith 5. What is Love - Kingdom Honestly, there are so many interesting and cool things to learn about SZA, in addition to building a deeper appreciation of the music craft in general. It's mesmerizing. Bless those who helped her get to where she is, and bless SZA for believing in herself. With this brief overview of a wonderful woman, I conclude with more fantastic images of a living goddess.
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Dave East: My Motivation Hey y'all, Welcome to the YED Heads and the first post of this blog journey. I decided to create this because I wanted a platform to discuss music that I am so passionate about and feel deserves recognition and a shout out. There's so much music being made everyday and wonderful music hiding in our pasts. The piece that motivated me, moved me, stirred emotions so strong within me it actually gave me chest pains, was this new -at the time- album called P2 (Paranoia 2) by Dave East. I was scrolling through Spotify's new releases and saw this album. It attracted me initially because it's monochromatic with blues and sepia, and I love monochromes. What made me click and listen was I had remembered Nicki Minaj posted about Dave East awhile ago, giving him a shout out on another, earlier album he had released called Paranoia. At the time she posted that, I clicked and listened to his song Paranoia and liked it, but didn't explore much further. I added the album to my queue and continued looking around for music to play in the background as I did some physics homework. I never got around to starting a problem because the album started off with an immediate banger, and I was vibing. I love a good rhythm and when the lyrics flow seamlessly with the peaks and lows of a beat. It fills my heart with happiness. The first song, Talk to Big, felt like the perfect set up. It said (not the lyrics but how I feel about it) "I'm coming with flow, bars, instruments of power, so prepare yourself." Prosper got bigger, then Woke Up featuring Tory Lanez was a definite vibe of being a boss, confidence, and allegiance to the grind. A fair feature sure to elevate him even more. At this point in the album, I am definitely vibing for real, and it's only three songs in. Powder is chill. I like the beat. It almost sounds like there is a harp or something which adds a nice soft piece. Corey tells a story of someone from his home. Thank You is hella jumpy, like shoulder shrugging, summer car rides sipping on a cold drink, laughing with your friends getting into all kinds of mischief. If you hatin' I just wanna say "Thank you" I Can Not is pretty hard. I would definitely play it at a party. Regular Harlem Shit is actually great. The woman in this audio file fucking kills me. "Donkey dickin'..." Annoying IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST SONG ON THE ALBUM. It's the actual shit. I play this song all the time, play it so loud it rattles the rear view mirrors. T.I. is in this song, as well, and he adds some nice lines in there. Mostly it's a sound change up and different verses, so not super outstanding to me, but I love it regardless. My favorite lines are... I just made a hundred Next is What Made Me which is nice and catchy. There's a trumpet or something in the background? Not entirely sure, but it holds the center of the sound of the song. Violent reminds me of an old western standoff with this twang guitar sound in the background, but also there's this kind of flute sound which sounds distinctly Asian, like cherry blossom, meditation type of image. I definitely like it. It's a different sound combination, and I appreciate that. I had seen I Found Keisha on a list of songs to love. I don't remember where I saw it, but it got me curious. This is a good song, well rounded. I would probably play this which chillin with my friends as good upbeat, hard, proactive background music. Hopefully I will soon be able to put up the videos I took, but I was fortunate enough to be able to attend his concert. Let me say that it was absolutely amazing and changed my life. His energy, confidence, and aura was outstanding. This was taken during one of his songs. I was so close to the front of the stage which was so incredible. I could've reached out and touched him if I had wanted to. Let me also say that while I was listening to this whole album the first time through, I was continually impressed by each consecutive song which came on. It was like each was building on the other before it, and I was blown away. Never have I felt before that a rapper told such a story. I know there are many others who have done the same, but this was the first time one of those stories really and truly impressed me and made me feel so deeply. This last piece of the album I don't even really remember listening to it because I was so overwhelmed by how I loved everything so much that was playing. Maintain is next to come up and I hellllllllaaaaa like it. I also play this one probably daily. It's badass, bumping in the car music, get a party started, f- it up type of lyricism and beat. He doesn't have a music video for it at this time of posting, so this decent lyric video can suffice. Also when this song was finished, I was falling over in my seat, like waving my arms in the air because I was on this beat so much. A crazy thing to walk in to see actually. Good thing nobody did. Never Been is legit. It made me feel like I was yearning for something, almost sad and reflective on what has happened in the past, but still recognizing the grind is what makes us productive and gets us to our goals. Pushing forward. This video by far is the best one, and I've watched half of the lyric videos on his Vevo; I love the ferns and his look at the end of the video. This song motivates me to do better, to keep moving, because better things will come your way as long as you keep working for what you want. Finally, my heart, my soul, the song that changed everything for me, is named Grateful. Something about it being at the end of a hard ass album, something about its softness, somehow he arranged the lyrics in a way that broke my heart and put it together again. It encompassed strong will and awareness for the necessity of hardships, this process of growing from the shitty parts in life. It embodies being thankful for those who come and go in our lives, for the hardships our caretakers and parents went through to get us to where we are now. More or less, I think it's him being grateful he was able to make this album and music altogether, that he is still alive to be successful, that he is still around to take care of his daughter. The precious status of our lives is out of our control, subject to anyone we surround ourselves with. I don't think this even needs the religious aspect to still make an impact. Some may disagree, but it's besides the point that we live because of those around us. This may mean those who motivate us, inspire us, provide for us, or who want us dead. We are who we give our time and attention to. Everything about the soft music arrangement and heartfelt words pointed towards a reckoning and acceptance. This is an expression for those who feel they have it tough now, who need to know they can make it, and to have the compassion to live gratefully. The sound of the woman's voice, Marsha Ambrosius, topped me off and had me fucking dead. She took my heart away and it's no longer mine. Her tone sounds to me what confidence, understanding, love, and empathy all sound like. (btw in this lyric music video, just listen and absorb more than watching because it's not the most visually interesting) The lines of the chorus which most influenced me are... Loyalty and love over everything |
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