Welcome to Song Deconstruction #11. I am a piano tuner and player - a poly-instrumentalist - and someone who can't stop listening to music. Sometimes one note rattles around in my supersonic ears - infecting my mind for weeks. I’m sure there is medication for that - but until then here is a what I’m listening for today.
2017 has been an interesting year. There are more songs that I find myself singing/playing along to then in years past.
Today’s selection would probably get me a lot of flak by my fellow Torontonians. In the hip hop world – rappers develop “beef” with each other. For those that knew who Biggie and Tupac were – you know the how serious these things get.
Drake and Meek Mill have had “beef” for a long time. They have both released “dis tracks”. Drake has won the “war” according to most people. Its about as tame as a football rivalry. The reason they hate each other is apparently their shared love for Nikki Minaj and how she kind of likes them both (read TMZ if you want to know more..). There was also a reference Meek made to Drake using “ghost writers” (so he quickly wrote a “dis track” in an undeniably Drake way). Drake is the king of the charts – so I won’t be featuring him - people who really like Hip Hop (or any specific genre) don’t rely on the charts – they rely on their ear.
One of the best Hip Hop songs of 2017 is called “Whatever you need” - its by Meek Mill, featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign. For those of you who don’t listen to Chris Brown because hes an asshole – I applaud you – but man does that guy have a voice most of us would love to have. This song has a traditional R&B vibe to it – almost 90s style. Chris Brown sings sweetly and clearly – if you don’t know Chris Brown – he’s the guy singing that sounds A LOT like Usher. Meek Mill comes into the song after the verse and chorus (which are relatively short). His rap is brilliant in this song. If you don’t know Meek Mill you might think its Drake rapping (that’s probably why they hate each other). Ty Dolla Sign is lucky to have his name on this song - the attractive elements all come from Meek and Chris Brown.
The instrumentation is obviously “keys” bass and drums – though it’s probably all synthesizer. The song where they found their “inspiration” (the chorus, the progression and some of the voicing) is a 1990 song by Tony! Toni! Tone! Called “Whatever you want”. Listen to them side by side.. I like the original song – I like the fact that it contains “real instruments” – but im a sucker for writers, especially those who can write infectious melody lines.
One of the best songs this year – probably the best “traditional hip-hop”. For those who like to hear the inspiration please give the Tony! Toni! Tone! Version a listen.
Todays Song:
Sampled Song:
Bonus: Chris Brown's best song ever. His voice is pure velvet.. My favorite song of 2009...