Welcome to Music Monday! My Instagram (@margaritaluvsmusic) has a trend called Music Mondays, where every Monday, I list out five songs I’ve been listening to and explain why I like them! If you like this read, make sure to go give the page a glance.
Since I couldn’t narrow down on just five, these seven tracks are songs that have been stuck in my head and constantly streaming in my headphones, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Black Ego – Digable Planets
Formed in 1987, Digable Planets follows the pattern of artists Nas and A Tribe Called Quest with their freeform rapping on top of a jazz groove, with this groove coming from Grant Green’s “Luanna’s Theme.” Ladybug Mecca’s voice opening the track sets a gentle tone as the trio describes their rise from the rough surroundings they grew up in throughout the eight-minute song.
The Ways – Khalid (with Swae Lee)
Similar to “Black Ego,” the soothing backing track stems heavily from synthesized woodwinds and wood-based percussion, adding a hollowness that is filled with the higher pitched electric guitar notes. The instrumental makes Khalid’s voice the perfect choice, providing a softness that compliments the instrumental. Swae Lee’s feature is calm, as he heavily utilizes post-production to pitch his voice up, and even adds in ad-libs from Kendrick Lamar to drive his traditional rap sound on this chill song.
Number One – Pharrell Williams, Kanye West
The song’s title epitomizes its ranking on the album In My Mind (Deluxe Edition), with a ridiculously catchy chorus that perfects an electronic groovy backing track. As Pharrell raps and produces, the song’s lyrics yearn for his “number one” woman, analogizing her to a record-breaking song. I love this song for so many reasons – from the beat to Pharrell’s untouched vocals to Kanye West’s smash verse doused in rhythmic stuttering and his 2000s flow, which also made songs like “American Boy” internationally acclaimed.
Dancing – bLAck pARty
With unique percussion as the backbone, this song has all of the ingredients for an amazing R&B hit: smooth vocals, a slower tempo and romantic lyrics. With these components in stellar form, this song melds together in the ear, making for an effortless track. bLAck pARty brings back the beauty of soft R&B with a slightly heavier production for the instrumental, adding a modern twist to an older, magical craft.
Netflix and Dusse – Smino
From his 2017 album blkswn, this is one of my Smino favorites. As he discusses his desire to see a girl, he glides over this reggae beat. His utilization of repetition fits so intricately into the syncopated off beats and stands out within his discography. Considering that almost all of Smino’s tracks either insinuate or directly discuss sexual activities, this song’s lyrical configuration of sex is both slick and simultaneously obvious, which is just fun.
Blow Your Mind – Jamiroquai
This eight-minute Jamiroquai track is now the second song off his Emergency on Planet Earth to be featured in Music Monday (@margaritaluvsmusic), and for good reason. Jay Kay’s manipulation of his lyrics to fit into the downbeat caveats rings of Michael Jackson’s influence, particularly on “I Can’t Help It.” The live band is iconic, sitting with the orchestras of Tower of Power and Blood, Sweat and Tears, proving that Jay Kay is truly outstanding.
Two Worlds Apart – Little Simz
Sampling Smokey Robinson’s “The Agony and the Ecstasy,” the track brings a stripped instrumental to Little Simz’s consistently amazing flow. I love Little Simz not only for her creative backing tracks, but for her unapologetically thick British accent and gut-punching lyrics that often comment on sociopolitical issues like beauty standards and racial discrimination. Her lyrical topics remind me of Noname in this sense, with the two representing different geographical sides of the same discussion.
