Rap Song of the Week: Maxo Kream Details Immeasurable Loss on “CRIPSTIAN”
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The post Rap Song of the Week: Maxo Kream Details Immeasurable Loss on “CRIPSTIAN” appeared first on Consequence of Sound.
Every week, our new music feature Rap Song of the Week breaks down our favorite hip-hop tracks of the week. Check out the full playlist here. This week, we highlight Maxo Kream’s WEIGHT OF THE WORLD opener “CRIPSTIAN.”
The world has changed immeasurably in the two years since Maxo Kream released his standout project Brandon Banks, and the Houston rapper might be carrying more weight than anyone else. While still grieving the loss of his brother, Maxo’s grandmother was hospitalized due to COVID and he had a cousin die by suicide — not to mention a friend whose bail was set at a million dollars.
Trauma is a theme explored throughout Maxo’s aptly titled new album WEIGHT OF THE WORLD, but the opening track “CRIPSTIAN” distills all his pain from the get-go. In addition to his dad and friend being in jail, Maxo has had to worry about the health of his grandmother and the death of his cousin André just 100 days after burying his brother Money Madu, who was murdered during the beginning of the early pandemic lockdown. It’s taken a toll on his health, as Maxo’s turned to codeine to numb the pain.
If that weren’t enough, rappers who make it always have haters rooting for their downfall and Maxo isn’t immune. “Love me when I’m broke as shit, they hate me now, my pockets fatter/ They love me broke and bummy, got rent money now I’m feelin’ sadder,” he raps, before pleading with God to see his brother one more time: “If I can’t get in heaven, can I at least visit my brother?/ So I can tell him ’bout my niece, how much love ’em, kiss and hug ’em.”
It’s worth noting WEIGHT OF THE WORLD finds balance with celebratory songs like the Tyler, the Creator-assisted “BIG PERSONA” and “FRFR.” To appreciate it as a whole, though, listeners are best served by starting with “CRIPSTIAN.”
Honorable Mentions:
BabyTron – “Day in Ferndale”
ShittyBoyz standout BabyTron’s lead single from his upcoming project Bin Reaper 2 is what we’ve come to expect from the Detroit rapper: pop culture-referencing punchlines delivered at a scattered pace over a soul-sampling beat. And even while his lyrics were focused on internet scamming, the young artist always had an everyman appeal. As BabyTron raps, “I just walk into the booth and tell you how I’m living.”
Cozz – “Fortunate”
Aside from a few guest verses on Revenge of the Dreamers III, Dreamville signee Cozz has been pretty quiet since his excellent 2018 album, Effected. Befitting the rapper’s lowkey persona, “Fortunate” is built around a psychedelic guitar which allows Cozz to show off his singing ability on the chorus as he remembers traumatic experiences from growing in the streets of Los Angeles.
JPEGMAFIA – “DIRTY!”
Experimental rapper JPEGMAFIA calls out biters with “weak ass rhymes” and “same old synths” while dropping references to Arthur, The Sims, and the late Big Pun and 2Pac on one of the more straightforward tracks on LP! While Peggy spends much of “DIRTY!” bemoaning the state of hip-hop, the game is going to be just fine as long as he keeps pushing the genre in whatever direction he pleases.
BIA – “MOTIONLESS”
After blowing up with her swaggering hit “Whole Lotta Money” and its Nick Minaj-assisted remix, BIA gets introspective about the fame on “MOTIONLESS.” Besides taking down the haters and being grateful for her fans, the Boston-bred rapper opens up about a fatherless childhood. Don’t be fooled by the vulnerability, though, as BIA is lying in wait for anyone who dares to bring negative energy her way.
Wale – “Tiffany Nikes”
Much of Folarin II covers territory like love and heartbreak, giving even more weight to the social commentary of “Tiffany Nikes.” Over anthemic horns, Wale calls out purported white allies for not bothering to do the bare minimum. “The least you could do is go tweet for Breonna/ I do not fuck with white people who silent,” he raps. “I do not fuck with white people who see it/ Don’t say it, I’m sayin’, they racist compliant.”
Best Rap Songs Playlist:
Rap Song of the Week: Maxo Kream Details Immeasurable Loss on “CRIPSTIAN”
Eddie Fu
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