Lil Wayne & Kendrick Lamar

Today I have some very interesting music for you especially because it falls in a weird space between being older music and newer music. One of the most well-known events in recent hip-hop history is the legal battle that one of the most prestigious names in hip-hop was fighting. Lil Wayne has brought so much to rap and has influenced so many rappers. The creative differences and legal battle that Lil Wayne was going through is now over. And what this means is that he can go back to releasing and creating music.

Now when this legal battle started Lil Wayne was going to release an album but was never able to since the legal battle was with his record label. And now that he has been released from any legal obligations, Lil Wayne has now been able to release that album after waiting almost 9 years. Needless to say, this is quite the triumph! This is also where the music gets very interesting because this album was recorded so long ago and maintains the musicality, structure, and recording quality of the late 2000s. Not only is this new music but it also serves as a throwback to a time when so many artists were still growing. This album truly takes us back to a time when hip-hop was different and when rap wasn't the most popular genre out there. And there are so many incredible things about this album because it was made over the course of 10 years. 10 years of fighting a record label, 10 years of music that is emotionally charged and electrified with substance and depth.

This song, in particular, is one of my favourites off the album. It features one of my favourite rappers of all time, Kendrick Lamar, and the two rappers tell a deep and meaningful story. We don't always get the kind of Storytelling in lyrics that we do in this song. The lyrics are focused solely on creating the narrative, the words built around chronicling something meaningful. With Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar, we have a narrative so phenomenal and so heartbreaking that you can't help but stop and listen and pay attention. This is a story both frustrating and compelling.  And once you do start paying attention, the story leaves you shocked and empathetic.

This is a story about lies and lust, being deceived on tour quest to satiate your desires. This is a story about falling into the traps of hunger and infatuation. And both Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar personify that journey. Not only are they able to be emotive about that those feelings, but they are able to do so convincingly as they've gone through that same archetypal journey in their own careers. What's interesting to note though is that Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar seem to be telling different stories. They both revolve around the affection towards a woman, and they also have someone of a shared ending. I feel like this is so critical because it seems as though both rappers are trying to let us know that a journey towards lust has a single inevitable ending. In the stories Lil Wayne is an alpha, and conversely, Kendrick Lamar comes across as weak and blubbering mess, his delivery intense enough that we believe he is on the verge of tears. It doesn't matter what kind of men the two are in these stories because there is still a silent fear of deceptive women. At the same time, the narratives show how men can be domineering and abusive towards women and unaware of how much they really do. I don't want to spoil the track too much for you so I won't say any more about the lyrical content of the song. 

Even the surrounding instrumentals have an intensity them which does nothing but enhance the power of the lyrics. The soundscape is rather simple, a deep and resounding bass drum and softer keyboard lines to support the rhymes. This shrouds the song in a darkness which helps set the mood of the song even more. The stories are dark, and to fill up that dark atmosphere, the instrumentals have an eerie simplicity. The production though does an excellent job of distorting the vocals in this song to heighten certain pivotal moments in the story. And the most impressive part of all is Kendrick Lamar's finale. The way he plays with his voice is stunning and allows to hear Kendrick Lamar from his To Pimp A Butterfly days. This is a wild track, a roller coaster of a story with levels of meaning and interpretation. The album as a whole is such a magnificent listen, and I am so glad to hear something so refreshingly old school like this. If Lil Wayne truly decides to retire, this is possibly the best swan song.

Today's instrumental song is from the epic soundtrack of Game of Thrones. As usual, Ramin Djawadi does not disappoint. This song seemed a good accompaniment for the first song for two reasons. One, it is encapsulated in a dark and sombre mood. Two, it is a simpler track from the entire masterpiece, but still packs so much power. Though the orchestration features fewer instruments and parts, there is a story to be told in this track alone. And that is something which is so majestic an moving. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!