Wiley, Stefflon Don, Sean Paul & Idris Elba and Maleek Berry
Today I was feeling really inspired to go out there and find something new and fresh and exciting for you all. If I’m honest, I’ve been feeling a bit stale and stagnant on the “music discovery” front. But today’s song is definitely quite a banger but in the most laid back way possible. This song is dripping in swagger, provided by the beats which make up the song and the rappers who throw their bars on top.
Wiley is an English MC and rapper out of London and has released music under a variety of names, including Eskiboy. This song is actually a very interesting one because it provides some outlook on the nature of hip hop, grime, and riddim. In the song, Wiley takes the term which makes up the song title and gives it a different meaning. Instead of boasting outright as to what he is, who he is, and what kind of things he can buy, Wiley is able to be “Boasty” in a way that is tasteful. I found it quite entertaining to hear what Wiley was being boasty about. In one verse, he talks about how he would rather spend his money on cars and houses rather than jewellery and things outside our means. Personally, I almost chuckled at this line because it feels as though Wiley is boasting about being financially responsible, which is something I can definitely support. He also talks about how he has so much money that his kids are set for life. Across all his verses, Wiley definitely finds a way to talk about how much money and success he has, but he does so in a way that doesn’t make you annoyed as a listener. He is able to express the successes of his life in a way that actually makes us kind of admire him. A different kind of “boasty,” but it is one that I can definitely get behind. One thing he also is able to boast about is the chance to work with three other unique artists. The song features verses by Stefflon Don, Sean Paul, and none other than one of Hollywood’s most talented, Idris Elba. I admit I was even more taken in by the song once I heard Idris Elba step up to the mic. Stefflon Don and Sean Paul are music industry familiars, and both are noticeably influential in the realm of Jamaican and Caribbean dancehall.
This song is full of reggae influences, from the beats and melodies to the way each rapper enunciates certain words and utilizes some slang. The song starts off with a repetitive kick, which then gives way to some heavy high hat work and bouncing snare drums. At some point, high pitched horn-like synth lines come into play and weave its way through the song. We also get some general synth work playing its way through the background, bumping in and out at with its own style. What is cool is that each verse and hook changes slightly each time. Whether it’s the pattern of the snare drum which changes or the adding a shaker, there are stylistic changes made specifically to frame the hooks and verses appropriately. The occasional adlib here and there also adds some flavour. The musicality in the track is a delicious mix of reggae and grime, which makes it an absolute bop.
Today’s instrumental song is by one of my favourite Afrobeat singers, Maleek Berry. This song is a catchy one that will keep your feet moving. While it doesn’t have the fast-paced nature of a lot of African pop songs, this track has that innate sensuality riling through it. The instrumentation is also rather simple, with the same keyboard and synth rhythm being repeated over, accompanied by some snare work and high hats. We do get some additional synth work in the background and flavours of percussion to change up the rather repetitive central beat. We even get a few guitar picks here and there! Maleek Berry carefully crafts his music to frame his voice and create an atmosphere, something we get here. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
Wiley is an English MC and rapper out of London and has released music under a variety of names, including Eskiboy. This song is actually a very interesting one because it provides some outlook on the nature of hip hop, grime, and riddim. In the song, Wiley takes the term which makes up the song title and gives it a different meaning. Instead of boasting outright as to what he is, who he is, and what kind of things he can buy, Wiley is able to be “Boasty” in a way that is tasteful. I found it quite entertaining to hear what Wiley was being boasty about. In one verse, he talks about how he would rather spend his money on cars and houses rather than jewellery and things outside our means. Personally, I almost chuckled at this line because it feels as though Wiley is boasting about being financially responsible, which is something I can definitely support. He also talks about how he has so much money that his kids are set for life. Across all his verses, Wiley definitely finds a way to talk about how much money and success he has, but he does so in a way that doesn’t make you annoyed as a listener. He is able to express the successes of his life in a way that actually makes us kind of admire him. A different kind of “boasty,” but it is one that I can definitely get behind. One thing he also is able to boast about is the chance to work with three other unique artists. The song features verses by Stefflon Don, Sean Paul, and none other than one of Hollywood’s most talented, Idris Elba. I admit I was even more taken in by the song once I heard Idris Elba step up to the mic. Stefflon Don and Sean Paul are music industry familiars, and both are noticeably influential in the realm of Jamaican and Caribbean dancehall.
This song is full of reggae influences, from the beats and melodies to the way each rapper enunciates certain words and utilizes some slang. The song starts off with a repetitive kick, which then gives way to some heavy high hat work and bouncing snare drums. At some point, high pitched horn-like synth lines come into play and weave its way through the song. We also get some general synth work playing its way through the background, bumping in and out at with its own style. What is cool is that each verse and hook changes slightly each time. Whether it’s the pattern of the snare drum which changes or the adding a shaker, there are stylistic changes made specifically to frame the hooks and verses appropriately. The occasional adlib here and there also adds some flavour. The musicality in the track is a delicious mix of reggae and grime, which makes it an absolute bop.
Today’s instrumental song is by one of my favourite Afrobeat singers, Maleek Berry. This song is a catchy one that will keep your feet moving. While it doesn’t have the fast-paced nature of a lot of African pop songs, this track has that innate sensuality riling through it. The instrumentation is also rather simple, with the same keyboard and synth rhythm being repeated over, accompanied by some snare work and high hats. We do get some additional synth work in the background and flavours of percussion to change up the rather repetitive central beat. We even get a few guitar picks here and there! Maleek Berry carefully crafts his music to frame his voice and create an atmosphere, something we get here. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
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