monkey brain No. 8
How to Be a cool kid, who Drake makes music for, and the unexpected hope-core we all needed
Welcome to Monkey Brain — the series where I share a stream of random thoughts from the month, powered by Billy, the monkey banging cymbals in my head. If it’s your first time here and this is your first impression of me, welcome, hello, and maybe sorry? Glad to have you here. If you’ve been here before, happy to have you back. Now let’s get into it.
“And the industry wouldn't be nothing without me
I don't know what it is, it's just something about me”
- Jadakiss
Cool Kids Have Bedtimes.
Have you ever reached a personal Super SAYAN MODE? I have, and it came from a lack of sleep. Honestly, I feel like I’ve reached a new level of powering through that I’ve never known before, and it’s also kind of wild to see all that your body can do. It’s giving “I’ve been up for four days, gettin money both ways, dirty and clean. I could use a glass of cold Spades.” Walking around looking like that DW meme with the bags under her eyes. However, after this long journey without sleep, I’ve decided to get back to basics and set a bedtime. So far, it’s been extremely helpful and is setting a tone for the routine my body has been needing. I’ve even gotten to the point where the sun directly wakes me up, not a phone. If you wanna be a cool kid, set a bedtime and stick to it for at least 30 days. If you wanna be cooler than cool, no screens an hour before. Let me know how it goes. You’re welcome.
Drake makes arrested development music
I have yet to listen to the most recent projects in full, but I’m pretty sure I already know what to expect. Three albums that have to do with jealousy, longing, and rumination. Songs narrating adulthood but from a still-adolescent emotional framework about how we will all regret overlooking him and how cool he is. And everything that has to do with feeling rather than resolution or growth. Now I say that to say art is a space for expression and that in itself is sacred, but also, I see very little growth in Aubrey, creatively or personally. It’s unfortunate because I grew up with early Drake and listened to every mixtape, random leak, and remake he made way back when, and now, 15+ years later, it’s the same conversation and the same creative trajectory. And I understand that artists do what works for them when they reach a certain point. It becomes a kind of machine, but there’s something to be said about making music for the avoidant types who carry a chip on their shoulder and seem to make toxic relationships their norm. These are the ones who love Drake in a way like no one else can bc, like Drake, they, too, are set in their emotionally stunted ways, many by choice. I’d like to see the correlation studied. Anyway, I hate to see it, and I said what I said, so fight with ya mom, not me.
Rappers need to get back to R&B
The other day, I came across a video of the rapper Jadakiss on Rap City rapping over Sunshine Anderson’s Heard It All Before, and it just reminded me how strongly I feel we’ve strayed far from the essence. First of all, having rappers who don’t freestyle anymore is extremely disappointing because it’s such a sport in itself, but in addition to that, Hip Hop and R&B once had a really dope relationship. Like, having an R&B singer on a hook, or having a rapper spit a verse? That lil unofficial sub-genre dominated back in the day. I constantly tell my friends they need to find ways to make music together. Like my R&B friends? I am always trying to get them to add a rapper to their songs. I don’t know. There was something about that era that was special, and now you have people like Drake who do both, which is why I think his music is so popular. It blends the two worlds in a way we’re familiar with. We need to bring it back. And before y’all list off a bunch of songs on projects, I’m asking you to tell me a song in the last 3 years that was a blend of the two that dominated the charts or the functions. Exactly. (I genuinely can’t think of any, but if you can, pls lmk) I appreciate my brother Carlheb, who actually took this advice and put Westside Boogie on one of his songs. A pleasant surprise from someone who isn’t too big on features. Regardless, it’s something I would love to see more of.
Jadakiss’ Rap City Freestyle
Carlheb’s song Closure ft. WESTSIDE BOOGIE
The World Cup was the hope core we needed
Clearly, there has been blatant racism, and watching all the teams I wanted to win slowly get disqualified (Haiti being the first stung really bad), but for whatever reason, this particular set of games really brought out a sense of hope that I think the world needs right now. Mainly because, while the government of this country clearly is questionable, it’s the people here that make it special. Seeing people from around the world come here to party and get a sense of what we do to survive and live to the best of our ability was such a beautiful gift to share. What was also just as beautiful was watching the many immigrant families see their home countries make it to a world stage, despite the various trials and tribulations. This was especially special for me to watch both Haiti and Cape Verde (if you’re from MA, you understand) make it to the World Cup. Seeing the country I represent so proudly make it back to the world stage since the 50s, knowing that they don’t even have a stadium to practice in back home because of how difficult things are, and also seeing many of us are actively battling TPS, gave us something to be proud of. Despite the constant punishment of being who you are and where you’re from, there remains pride and resilience. I saw a similar thing with the team from Palestine, who knew without a shadow of a doubt that this game was more than just a game; their lives, their existence, were and still are political. That bravery amongst nations is one that brought not only a sense of pride, but also support you saw from so many countries. As we wrap up this World Cup, I want us to remember that despite the tragedies we’ve witnessed, change has never only come from governments. It has always come from people — from communities coming together in numbers, refusing to accept the world as it is, and fighting to build the world it could be.
Well, y’all, that’s all I have for now. In the meantime, here’s a cute little playlist of songs where rappers and R&B artists understood the assignment.
I second you on the rappers need to get back to R&B stance. I feel like Mariah was the GOAT of that for a time. She was consistently able to bridge that gap for us.