05 Mar 18: Forever - Joyner Lucas

Song: Forever

Artist: Joyner Lucas

Album (Year): (508)-507-2209 (2017)

Notable Lyric: "And I still remember your baby shower like it was yesterday // And to your mom it was special, me, just another day // I wish that you could see the pictures, all the fake phony smilin' // Had to pretend that I was happy, deep down I was cryin' "

I call this my Song of the Day but in fact it's been my song of the day since last Wednesday - so I suppose that covers me for the days I've missed since then ;)

I just published a post on Joyner Lucas as my Artist of the Week because his music is so emotionally and mentally stimulating that it's almost addictive. He has this way of conveying powerful messages in a way that's easy to understand but also unique to what I've seen or heard before. It's not demonstrated in this song but his ability to rap so quickly is equally impressive. I've spent a significant amount of time in the last week trying to keep up with the flow while reading the lyrics ..

In his mixtape (508)-507-2209 he addresses topics such as abortion in this song; depression and suicide in I'm Sorry; growing up without positive role models in Just Like You; the desperate lengths people will go to when they're struggling in Winter Blues; the extent people will go to for money in Keep It 100; and of course not to forget the viral video on the bubbling racial tensions in the USA in I'm Not Racist.

The raw emotion, the uncomfortable honesty, the vulnerability of this song in particular leaves you really feeling like you can relate to his story. And, as mentioned in my blog post, that's what Joyner Lucas is a master in - story telling. In a number of his songs he follows a pattern of telling the same story from opposite or different perspectives in a detailed and vivid manner.

As mentioned in the blog post, I'm all for this return of lyricism after what feels like years of meaningless "mumble rap". Of course I understand that people relate to music in different ways which I will always appreciate. As I'm writing this I'm realising that I probably really enjoy this kind of music because of the experience that I have when listening to lyrics which I perceive to be meaningful and relatable.

Either way, if you can find someone who doesn't have a strong emotional response to this song then please point them in my direction as I'll have a lot of questions!