Disclaimer: views are my own. No homework was done pre-reading any reviews of this album or reading her takes on the songs. All of this is basically how I interpret each song. So whether I am dead on or so far off the mark, you decide!
01. 100 Percent - Total motivation. It's obvious the song is about giving it your all, putting all your cards on the table. To me it's about living a life of authenticity as well.
Fave line: Bro your flow sucks like mouths on Blow Pops *sound effect*
02. Comments Disabled - This song is about internet trolls. She hits the nail on the head tackling this issue of online harassment through comments, group harassment, and assholes that won't give up forming new accounts. Her YouTube video comments are disabled. Basically people are dicks and need to find a new hobby or purpose in life. As for the song, chorus is off the hook! You'll be singing that phone number in your sleep ;)
Fave line: When you kick them out they make new accounts that are fake like some extensions. I'm thinking..you should invest in... collecting a best friend who won't let you press send to someone you just met through Twitter or Sirius XM.
03. Childhood - If you don't get nostalgic listening to this song there is something seriously wrong with you (unless you were born in a different decade)! I'm six years older than Sammus but I still have fond memories of Mario Kart, Nick at Nite, 90s movies with siblings. She also has a nice touch in there about despite the distance with your family as you grow older, those memories remain forever. This song makes you really yearn to be a kid again. It's like sitting on a porch swing with grandparents as they tell you "Well back in my day..."
Fave line: I spend the summer overdosing on Pokemon. Chillin' with my brother on the sofa watching Home Alone.
04. Cubicle - Basically I think she's using "Cubicle" as a metaphor in this song as "don't live a life of predictability." It's important to aim high and set goals. She did it, she's telling you that you can do it too.
Fave line: Better stick with artists who will give good product
05. Perfect, Dark - This song punches you in the gut, hard. Sammus talks about a severe lack of cartoon characters or heroes she could relate to that match the color of her skin. As a child she painfully talks about how that hurt her, thinking her skin had "third degree burns." When sketching her heroes the first thing she would do "draw yellow dresses over pink skinned faces."
Fave line: Black girls wanna have a hero too. All kids tryna get that mirror view. Cartoons gotta represent my hue.
06. Weirdo - Side note: I love that Homeboy Sandman collaborates with her on this song (mad respect for him. saw him twice when Aesop Rock toured). This song taps into the violence against black people. She addresses gun violence, arrests, etc. The chorus is said with sarcasm, "Yeah I'm just another mad weirdo."
Fave line: Shoot my peoples like we are free throws
07. Song About Sex - With all the shit going on about domestic violence no longer being a crime in Russia and with 45 as president, our rights as women are being taken away from us. Here date rape is touched upon and how there is a need for consent as no means no!
Fave line: Not condemn women for the realities in which they are living. We should not be forgetting. We should be forward living you should be for what we can't afford to keep on forgiving.
08. Headliner - Preparing for tour being the headliner. Your name up on the marquee, being on the top of your game, making the crowd want more. This song for me has a Santigold vibe :)
Fave line: Gotta have some guts if you headline. Gotta make em trust in your end rhymes
09. Nighttime - This is my FAVORITE Sammus song on the album. The loop sounds like an underwater Sonic the Hedgehog level! The video compliments the song so well! Be sure to check it out. I think we can all relate to having anxiety and how your brain doesn't always turn itself off at night when you want to sleep? The song for her is about anxieties of being an artist, all the planning that goes into it keeps her up at night; record sales, checking emails, rejection, etc.
Fave line: I wish I didn't get so goddamn crippled by anxiety. We should get a grip over that side of me. (gosh don't we all!)
10. 1080p - I love the title of this song. The theme is seeing her life in focus for the first time after going to therapy. When I saw Sammus in concert she said her therapist really saved her after drowning in grad school. Her comfort was her mom, who left a message on her cell phone that she wore out. The actual message makes an appearance on the album which is a really special touch. Fans apparently wrote to Sammus claiming this song helped them get help.
Fave line: Now my therapist she take care of me. Like Sierra Mist things are clear to see. Now I'm seeing my world in 1080p.
11. Genius - People who stereotype rappers or hip hop artists. How words shouldn't categorize.
Fave line: I stay woke through writing
Overall I would rate this album a solid A. The only track I wasn't crazy about is "Genius" but there are so many stand-outs. Sammus' writing is a gift and if I can share this with as many people, spread the love.
No comments:
Post a Comment