for the love of music
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Welcome to “Songs of the Week” a weekly segment where I highlight three of the best new songs released the week prior along with one throwback song of the week. To stay up to date on all new music, follow my Spotify playlist “What I’m Feeling” which is updated weekly to always include the freshest new music. Always 30 songs, hottest always at the top. Stream it here:
A playlist updated weekly with whatever new songs I'm feeling at the time. Always 30 songs and in order with what I'm feeling the most at the top.
Açaí Bowl, a song by Dominic Fike on Spotify
Ultra-talented singer/rapper Dominic Fike blessed us this week with the release of the absolutely beautiful ballad that is “Açaí Bowl”. In three minutes the Florida artist perfectly captures modern love and showcases his innate knack for impactful melodies. This song is immensely powerful and shows exactly how to tastefully execute a love song in our current musical climate. After listening to this song it’s hard to not get Frank Ocean Blonde vibes and even harder to not be insanely excited for new music from Dominic Fike.
“And when they locked me up, she never listened to her friend, they told her “move on” movin’ on
And now she tells that same bitch ‘’My shoes Prada, my boo bought ‘em, I do love him’’
You know them bitches mad as fuck
I let my smile show ‘til these bitches had enough”
Out Tha Mud, a song by Roddy Ricch on Spotify
Mr. LA (AKA Roddy Ricch) cannot miss. The past year has been hit after hit for the young rapper and “Out Tha Mud” is the next installment in the series we have all been unconditionally enamored with for the past year. Roddy’s unique flows sharply slice through the menacing, flute-driven, June James instrumental. The accompanying video gives the cut an even darker personality as it showcases Roddy and his friends hanging out at a mansion flexing their impressive arsenal. At this point, every song the SoCal rapper releases is a must listen.
“Hey, gang slide, gang slide, that’s what I was doing last year
A lot of people say I’m being humble, nigga, this the last year
Got so many bands, I’m the cashier, hey
A nigga retired the hats, bitch I can’t do no cappin’ here”
K.R.I.T. HERE, a song by Big K.R.I.T. on Spotify
Big K.R.I.T is back after his critically acclaimed independent album 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time with some new southern heat. On “K.R.I.T HERE” the Mississippi rapper revisits his record deal with Def Jam and how happy he is to now be independently making the music he loves. The song is so fun and the pitched up DJ Camper instrumental just adds to the party. The song reminds me of “Big Bank”, the third cut off 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time. If this correlation suggests that K.R.I.T’s new album is reminiscent of his 2017 release then I couldn’t be more excited.
“Drop me off at the top, got that key with no lock
Play for the team that I own, ain’t no takin’ my spot”
Come&Go
Due to the insane success of Goodbye & Good Riddance and the near overnight sensation that was “Lucid Dreams” most of Juice WRLD’s earlier music has been widely overlooked and forgotten. This contains an abundance of SoundCloud cuts which all show so clearly why we fell in love with the heartbroken Chicago artist. “SOMETHING NEW” might be the best Juice WRLD song you won’t find on streaming services in large part to the rattling hook which showcases a young Juice flexing on his surplus of girls with his drop-top whip. If you like Juice WRLD, you need to know this song.
“Money come and go
Bitches come and go too
She was getting old
Have to cop something new
First I’ll drop my hoe, then i drop my sunroof
Then I throw my dough up, because I want to”
Check back in next week for three new hot songs and one new throwback! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to get updated when we post:
By Kaila Cherry
Less than a year after the release of his debut album Goodbye and Good Riddance, breakout emo rap star Juice Wrld shows no intention of shying away from the limelight with his new sophomore project Death Race for Love. Juice WRLD established himself with his hit single “Lucid Dreams” that soon became one of the biggest songs of last summer, which, when looking at the content of the track, is surprising. Juice WRLD is not making trap bangers or generic, bass boosted, braggadocios hip hop songs. Instead, he uses his music to explore the depths of himself in relation to love, drugs, and fame with a level of vulnerability that is not in norm for top charting rap artists.
Death Race for Love is consistent thematically with Goodbye and Good Riddance. Both touch on Juice WRLD’s history of drug addiction, his desire for genuine love, and his inability to cope with his new star status. In the album’s opener “Empty,” the rapper asserts in the chorus that that he doesn’t want to come home and how he “problem solves with Styrofoam”(in reference to sipping lean) before admitting that he feels “so goddamn empty.” With this track, Juice WRLD lets us know exactly what is in store for the rest of the project. His strained vocals during the chorus to emphasize the extent of his inner turmoil, his sleepy and melancholy delivery on the rap verses, the “woe is me” nature of the lyrics, and the Soundcloud-esque beat and production style are fairly consistent throughout the 1 hour and 22 minute duration of Death Race for Love. It is safe to say that if you are not interested in what Juice WRLD does in “Empty,” then this album is not one you will enjoy.
Although Juice WRLD does meditate heavily on love, drugs, and the wavering state of his mental health, there are tracks that somewhat divert from these central themes. Death Race for Love sees Juice WRLD attempt different styles of production, performance, and lyricism in songs such as “Big,” “Syphilis,” “Out My Way,” “The Bees Knees,” and “ON GOD” featuring Young Thug. All these tracks feature more complicated beats, intricate vocal layering, and heavier autotune as Juice WRLD spits bars that are more aggressive and flashy than anything on Goodbye and Good Riddance.
Juice WRLD experiments with a few different styles on Death Race for Love overall. “Hear Me Calling” has an island inspired drum progression that makes a song about desperately wanting an ex back extremely vibey, and even danceable. “Robbery” utilizes a high-pitched, twinkly piano sample whose sound is comparable to a Fisher Price toy instrument as he sings about, once again, heartbreak. “Big,” and “Syphilis” are not only aggressive, they also come from clear sources of inspiration. The sound, the flow, and the lyrics of “Big” could have easily been recorded by someone like Travis Scott, while the grunge sound and screaming vocals of “Syphilis” are in line with the style rappers like Famous Dex, $ki Mask the Slump God, and XXXTentacion.
While it is nice to see Juice WRLD play with his sound and lyricism, sometimes that experimentation just results in tracks that lack authenticity and originality. It is not the songs are not good or enjoyable, it is just that they sound little like Juice WRLD songs at all. “Big” and “Syphilis” are not just inspired by other artists, they are almost indistinguishable from the work of the rappers mentioned above. In this way, it feels less like Juice WRLD is trying to break new ground with these tracks and more like he is trying to assimilate to a mainstream hip hop sound that fails to land for me.
Death Race for Love is, to put it simply, a very “Juice WRLD-esque” project. Even though it tries to several times with limited success, the album sticks to its emo rap roots with moody trap tracks chock full of autotune, sad piano chords, pop punk inspired vocals, and lyrics dedicated to the portrayal of how fucked up life is. Personally, I judge Juice WRLD on the merit of his music, less on its artistic sophistication and more on its capacity for catharsis. Is Death Race for Love musically repetitive? Yes. Does Juice WRLD focus on the same themes and topics over and over again without much diversity in how he talks about them? Yes. Do some of the tracks on the album sound a little flat and generic? Yes, they do.
But at the same time, I relate to what he is saying with the project. I relate to heartbreak, depression, and not knowing how to cope and I think that having a sense of familiarity with these experiences makes Juice WRLD’s music much more enjoyable amongst some of the absurdity that exists among the production and the lyrics. Death Race for Love is far from a perfect album but it is not as bad as you may be primed to think it is.
HeMotions
Fast
The Bees Knees
Rating: 6.5
Listen to Death Race for Love here:
Death Race For Love, an album by Juice WRLD on Spotify
Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to get notified when we post:
Welcome to “Songs of the Week” a weekly segment where I highlight three of the best new songs released the week prior along with one throwback song of the week. To stay up to date on all new music, follow my Spotify playlist “What I’m Feeling” which is updated weekly to always include the freshest new music. Always 30 songs, hottest always at the top. Stream it here:
A playlist updated weekly with whatever new songs I'm feeling at the time. Always 30 songs and in order with what I'm feeling the most at the top.
Have Mercy, a song by YBN Cordae on Spotify
YBN’s golden boy is back with one of the hottest songs the young MC has dropped. On “Have Mercy” Cordae flexes a plethora of different flows and some of the cleverest bars we’ve heard this year. While we’ve known the North Carolina rapper has been destined for greatness for some time, “Have Mercy” feels different than anything he’s released leading me to believe it might finally be his time for takeover. Assuming that “Locationships” and “Have Mercy” both make his newest album, Cordae is clearly aiming for the throne with his next release.
“Why cry over spilled milk if you still feel I’m the real deal?
My bitch bad with no ill-will ‘cause she’ll murk a nigga like Kill Bill
Loose slips sink ships, Cam’ron pink drip, that is my fashion
I’m not really with the high flashin’, it’s no helpin’ with my braggin’”
Fast, a song by Juice WRLD on Spotify
“Fast,” a standout single on Juice WRLD’s new album Death Race For Love, reminds us of every reason we love the Chicago artist. His lyrics are reflective, emotional, and relatable. His vocal performance is driven by interesting melodies that pair beautifully with the beat. The instrumental is driven by a slow guitar giving the cut the unique feel he is known for. This is a classic Juice cut and an early favorite off of Death Race For Love.
“My mama taught me better than that, I’ll be honest
I blame it on the drugs and this life I’m involved in”
Aloha, a song by Charlie Heat, Denzel Curry on Spotify
Denzel Curry can do no wrong and even if it isn’t your particular taste his talent is indisputable. On his latest release “Aloha” he links up with G.O.O.D Music super producer Charlie Heat. Denzel locks into an dope drawn-out flow that is reminiscent of the last time the two linked up in 2018 for “SUMO|ZUMO.” This song is an absolute banger and leaves listeners begging for more. Whatever Denzel is up to, here at StereoVision we’re here for it.
“Nigga so bizarre, I’m raw, I’m rich
At first, I park my car, then park your bitch
And when I pop the bra, I know, it’s lit
I’m like an envelope, proceed to lick”
Shoulda Woulda, a song by Kodak Black on Spotify
“Shoulda Woulda” is one of my favorite songs in Kodak Black’s deep discography. The Project Baby cut is anchored by a mesmerizing instrumental that gives Kodak the perfect pocket to flex all the things he could’ve done if he felt like it. The hook on this cut is absolutely addicting allowing this track to be played on repeat for some time without annoyance. Kodak rarely gets the credit he deserves for his early work and “Shoulda Woulda” is undeniable evidence.
“Man, I should’ve got the Lex
Dropped the top on ‘em, I ain’t wanna flex
Would’ve hit your girl, I ain’t want the sex
I had shit to do, I made her drop the neck”
Check back in next week for three new hot songs and one new throwback! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to get updated when we post:
