This series covers the dopest songs and projects that have dropped recently and the amazing artists behind them!
By Ben Leshan
Songs
“Calling My Phone” by Lil TJay feat. 6lack
This has become one of the biggest songs in the U.S., and it is largely based off a buzz built on Tiktok. TJay, a 19-year-old Bronx rapper who has seen a lot of success early in his career, seems to have caught his biggest hit yet. He first broke out on YouTube and SoundCloud in 2018 with his hit song “Brothers”, and has built a lot of momentum since. This record is right in his sweet spot. A sad song over a vocal sample that allows him to show off his haunting New York voice and quotable bars. The song also seems to perfectly fit the voice of his collaborator, Atlanta RnB singer 6lack.
TJay has seen an interesting career trajectory, rising through the ranks and becoming one of the biggest names in New York with the drop of his debut album True 2 Myself. The project included many big songs including the smash hit “F.N”, which was released in August of 2019 and eventually peaked at 56 on the Billboard Hot 100. After True to Myself it seemed things were only going up for TJay, but his earl 2020 release, a drill EP entitled State of Emergency, was somewhat of a hiccup. On the project he forrayed into drill rap, a subgenre that is immensely popular in New York, but doesn’t really suit his voice. Some may have seen this as the beginning of a fall off for the young rapper, but now we see it was a small diversion, just as older Bronx star A Boogie’s International Artist project was quickly forgotten after the release of the highly successful Hoodie Szn. TJay has come with the heat in late 2020 into 2021, and it’s clear that he’s gearing up to have one of the biggest commercial releases in hip hop this year. His first three singles, “Losses”, “Move On”, and “None of Your Love” provide all the energy, heartbreak, and maturity we wanted to hear from TJay. “Calling My Phone” is not necessarily better than these other recent singles, but it has a different level of momentum due to its popularity on Tiktok. For months before its release an unreleased snippet of the chorus made its rounds on the video-sharing app, acting as the background for many-a-sad and moody video. TJay, being a member of Gen-Z himself, has a fanbase that also falls in the primary demographic for Tiktok. This crossover created a ton of hype for the brooding song, and has led to its breakout commercial success.
The song itself features a high pitched vocal sample which sings “I can’t get you out of mind” over minor keys, 808s, and soft hi-hats; production that fits both artists’ voices and the mood of the track. The song is aimed at TJay’s ex, telling her to stop trying to contact him because he is completely done with the relationship. He maintains the attitude that he is successful and doesn’t need anything from her, but the pain in his voice is clear. He is not going to come out and say that he misses her, but the subtle echo of “I can’t get you out of my mind” says a lot about his mental state. 6lack continues with the same themes from TJay’s verse, singing about moving on and finding a new girl to give his love. He sings, “Yeah, I remember days when I used to adore her/ Funny how this sh*t just flipped like a quarter”. This track seems to be a great opportunity for the underrated singer, who has been creating amazing music for years, but has rarely reached elite chart success. His verse definitely shows him to be one of the more talented artists in the game, and hopefully it draws more people to his catalog. “Calling My Phone” is clearly one of the biggest hits in the country because it matches great production with clean, pretty vocals, and a relatable message. Due to the buzz it has already caught, you can expect it to stick around at the top of the charts for a while.
“Leave Some Day” (Remix) by Kevo Muney feat. Lil Durk
Memphis melodic rapper Kevo Muney is quietly rising through the ranks of the hip hop world, and this may be the song to truly put him on the map. Pooh Shiesty has recently broken out from Memphis with smash hit “Back in Blood” (which also features Chicago star Lil Durk). and Muney might be the next rapper to flip a song with a Durk feature into a hit. The song was originally released in February of 2020 and since then has racked up over 9 million streams on Spotify. The Durk remix should be able to build off the hype of the original version and reach new ears due to Lil Durk’s big name in Hip Hop. The original version is also continuing to be quite successful, but we are covering the remix as it was released this year.
Muney is a 20-year-old rapper from South Memphis. He says in his YouTube bio that he started off busking on the streets of his city, and you can hear in his music that he certainly has the unique and powerful voice necessary to draw in a crowd. He is able to belt over melodic trap production, and his vocal tone immediately draws in the listener. His deep voice and vocal inflections are reminscent of Alabama rapper Yung Bleu, but it is more powerful and gospel, similar to rising North Carolina star Morray (who we covered in our 12 Artists to Watch in 2021). Muney seems to get completely lost in the emotion of the music, belting out runs and painful lyrics over guitars, keys, hard-hitting snares, and 808s. He references God on the track, and he certainly seems to create a religious experience through his music. The chorus features beautiful vocals and the line “We all gotta leave some day, and that’s the scariest thing”. The vulnerability is an interesting take on trap music that we have seen from numerous melodic trap rappers in recent years, but Muney does it really well, and he is unique enough to stand out. Durk proves to be a great feature on the song, as the beat perfectly fits his voice. On his verse Durk taps into his vulnerability as well, rapping lines like “I’m traumatized by all these bodies getting dropped now”. He gives a classic verse in his style that provides legitimacy to Muney, in that he has one of the GOATs of his style on a track with him. Muney though, makes a strong bid to outshine Durk, as his voice is more powerful, and vulnerability is more intense and unorthodox. He sounds like a star on the track, and it seems clear this song is going to do big things.
“Overdrive” by Conan Gray
Conan Gray broke out in a huge way last year with his album Kid Krow and smash hits “Maniac” and “Heather”, and now he’s back with more great music. The 22-year-old from Texas seems like a soft-spoken, thoughtful, and emotional person in his day-to-day life, but on the mic he is a commanding presence. He has built a following through emotional and relatable tracks about relationships, but he has the potential to be a true pop star. His voice hits high notes perfectly and has a unique and valuable tone. He finds a way to weave lines that hit you in the heart into songs that are hits purely based on what they are doing sonically. Don’t be surprised to see him solidify himself as one of the biggest acts in popular music this year.
On “Overdrive” Gray sings about falling quickly into an exciting relationship. It has the energy of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” (not that it will go THAT big) in that the 80s synths and high energy drums feel as though the track is speeding through the chaos of the night. The song immediately screams pop radio with its big sounds and anthem feel. The verses feature soft bouncing chords that build into shimmering synths as the chorus drops. The track is designed to build anticipation in the right moments and get you hooked on the infectious chorus. In other words, it is an undeniable hit on first listen, and it seems highly unlikely that it doesn’t see immense commercial success. Fan’s of Gray might see this as one of his less emotionally powerful tracks, but it is definitely a necessary part of his catalog. Just as “Maniac”, an excellent dance/radio track, paved the way for the soft and emotional “Heather” to go viral on TikTok, “Overdrive” has the potential to push him to even higher levels of fame before the release of his next album, which is bound to include more “Heather”-like tracks. Overall this feels like a big moment in further solidifying Gray’s stardom, and one that music fans everywhere should not miss.
“Red Sky” by Trippie Redd feat. Machine Gun Kelly
Trippie Redd is a rap superstar, but he has always been obsessed with rock music. The 21-year-old Ohio artist has had many big rap hits, but he definitely has the potential to create rock hits as well. His iconic screams and use of guitars throughout his catalog lean more to the rock side, but usually he has stuck more to trap rock sounds, using trap drums and 808s with rock-leaning vocals and guitars. There are plenty of examples of his rock-leaning tracks like “How You Feel” from 2018’s Life’s a Trip or his feature on Iann Dior’s hit “Gone Girl”. Now with the release of Neon Shark vs. Pegasus, the deluxe for his 2020 album Pegasus, presented by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, he has finally created a body of work fully committed to rock sounds and live drums. He actually released the first single for the deluxe last summer, “Dreamer”. The track has seen good commercial success so far, and it sits towards the top of Trippie’s discography in terms of quality. This is not a perfect album, but there are strong elements to every song. It could even be possible that we see the deluxe perform commercially at a level that competes with the album itself. Generally, for Trippie fans, it is exciting to hear him on this kind of production, as he has been teasing a rock project for years without putting it out. This release truly proves that Trippie has a great voice for this space and could do more work outside of Hip Hop if he wants.
On “Red Sky” Trippie sits perfectly in his rock pocket. He uses his screams in moderation to create big moments, and manipulates his unique tone to create contrast. He is loud and aggressive at times, but also leans into his softer and prettier tones in other places to bring out the emotion of the track. The guitars feel like the perfect backdrop, and Travis Barker’s drum talents are used incredibly well. Trippie Redd and MGK have worked together successfully on multiple occassions on songs like “Candy”, “All I Know”, and now “Pillbreaker” from this deluxe. Beyond the two vocalists’ chemistry, MGK and Barker (who plays drums throughout the project) have proven to be magic together on many occasions, especially on Kelly’s number one album Tickets to My Downfall. MGK and Trippie work together perfectly on this song, neither outshining the other, but both coming together to create a cohesive vision. On “Red Sky” they explore the emotions of losing a person you really wanted. The lyrics are dark and sad as many Trippie and MGK songs are, and they build to a longing release on the chorus. Trippie sings “Life’s full of lies and then you damn die” in the first verse, going to a dark place before the chorus hits with heavy electric guitars and Barker’s drums. Trippie’s voice is softer as he delivers the first line of the chorus, but he taps into his pain as he sings “You bring me above”. The chorus is definitely the highlight of the song, and truly shows what Trippie is capable of as a rock artist. MGK’s verse is also dark and cynical, but it fits the mood perfectly. Overall, this is a great rock track that could become a major standout in Trippie Redd’s catalog.
Project Spotlight
Judas and the Black Messiah– Film Soundtrack
Judas and the Black Messiah is a film following FBI informant William O’Neal’s betrayal of Illinois Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton. It was released to theaters on February 12. The film has been lauded by critics, but its soundtrack also warrants critical acclaim. Upon first glance, this soundtrack is loaded with big name artists. Some of the best rappers of all time jump off the page: Nas, Jay-Z, Rakim, and Black Thought. The late great Nipsey Hussle is featured. Modern rap stars like A$AP Rocky, Lil Durk, Polo G, G Herbo, JID, and Pooh Shiesty are also included. And then some big names in RnB like H.E.R., SiR, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Kiana Ledé. This soundtrack is not just star studded though, it’s high quality.
The obvious stand out track on the project is “What it Feels Like” by Nipsey Hussle featuring Jay-Z. The bones of the song are a classic Nipsey song. It has all the bravado and west coast sauce of a Victory Lap track (his 2018 Grammy-nominated album), but the consciousness of the mature community advocate Nipsey was before his death in 2019. The Jay verse was clearly added quite recently, as it references the Capitol Riots, but even though the two didn’t craft the song together in the studio, it still flows cohesively. Hov gives an immaculate verse, as he tends to do, giving us elite wordplay and careful messaging. It is reminiscent of his verse on Meek Mill’s “What’s Free”, which is easily one of the best verses in the last five years. His bars are current and beautifully crafted. He states, “You let them crackers storm your capitol, but they feet up on your desk/ And yet you talkin’ tough to me, I lost all my little respect”. He goes on to address Fred Hampton, the man who inspired the movie, rapping “I arrived on the day Fred Hampton got mur-, hol’ up/ Assassinated just to clarify further”. This is a powerful statement; that law enforcement’s killing of Hampton was not a “justifiable homicide” as it was legally ruled, but a political and tactical move to remove him and his ideas from the world. Even though Jay’s assertion here has come to be widely accepted, it is an important one nonetheless because Fred Hampton is often left out of curriculums, and the FBI’s killing of a young man trying to improve opportunities for Black people on a systemic level is a perfect example of American law enforcement protecting white supremacy instead of protecting their citizens.
The project has many standouts beyond “What it Feels Like”. There is “Fight For You”, where H.E.R. uses her captivating voice to tackle the topic of freedom. There is “EPMD” by all-time great Nas. “Rich N**** Problems”, where A$AP Rocky explores what it’s like to be a rich and successful Black man in America. “Contagious” by rising RnB stars SAFE and Kiana Ledé is less of a standout for its message, but it sounds like a hit. “Last Man Standing” by Polo G is an all-around great record with high replay value and hard-hitting lyrics. Polo faces racism, police brutality, gang violence, and poverty directly with lines like, “Jealous of my melanin, what make you human more than me?” and “Them babies starving; their parents can’t even afford pampers/ no wonder why it’s hustle or die, and clap hammers”. He manages to weave commentary on cultural appropriation, systemic racism, economic injustice, and the reasons for gang violence into these few bars, and the entire track tackles critical issue after issue. Finally, “Revolutionary” by Chicago star G Herbo and legend Bump J is easily the most underrated song on the project. The track is a bit more understated and low tempo than some of the others, but the Hit-Boy production, featuring soft drums and a clean vocal sample, provides the perfect beat for the two MCs to go in. Herbo, who is at his roots a drill rapper, proves that he is still one of the most lyrical rappers in the game with intricate wordplay like, “Locked and loaded up with rounds of protection/ Profound with aggression, you found us on Essex”. The presence of Bump J on the track is a commentary on mass incarceration in itself, as the 41-year-old Chicago rapper lost the prime of his career to a ten year prison sentence for armed-robbery. His verse is also excellent, tying in themes of street codes and the flaws of the legal system.
Overall, Judas and the Black Messiah has put together an excellent soundtrack to match the themes of the film. Full of Chicago artists and some of the other biggest voices in music right now, the soundtrack puts in the work to represent the legacy of Fred Hampton. We only mentioned some of the songs as standouts, but every song truly has stand-alone value. This project is an important listen for anyone, and we encourage non-Hip Hop fans to still listen and do their own research about Fred Hampton. We have linked some resources below:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fred-Hampton
Thank you for reading! Follow us on Instagram @moonlxtemelodies and on twitter @MoonlxteMels for more about your favorite music!
Also Check out our other recent articles:
Moonlxte Melodies 