15 N Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason features music by Ariana Grade, Black Atlass, Drake, G-Eazy, J Balvin & Katy Perry.

Ah, fun creating a playlist with limited criteria – freedom feels so free! After dropping G-, P-, S-, L-, R-, and A- songs selected with no rhyme or reason, it felt totally right to start June 2020 off right with another playlist with NO RHYME OR REASON.  Keeping things random, the letter of choice for the latest edition just happens to be N, hence, N SONGS SELECTED WITH NO RHYME OR REASON.

Just as a reminder, the main criteria for N SONGS SELECTED WITH NO RHYME OR REASON are that the title of the song must begin with the letter ‘N’ OR the word that begins with ‘N must be the first word of note. N SONGS SELECTED WITH NO RHYME OR REASON features music courtesy of Ariana Grade, Black Atlass, Drake, G-Eazy, J Balvin, and Katy Perry among others. Without further ado, join into this random N-song list which has NO RHYME OR REASON!

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1. Drake, “Not You Too” (Ft. Chris Brown)

Dark Lane Demo Tapes • OVO / Republic • 2020

I know I’ve used the word ‘vibe’ a lot while analyzing Dark Lane Demo Tapes, but that’s one of the best ways to characterize Drake and his approach and brand of music.  Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020) marked a second consecutive mixtape release from the Grammy-winning rap superstar, following Care Package (2019). Though it’s a project that certainly isn’t the second coming, Dark Lane Demo Tapes has its share of moments. Does “Not You Too,” the song at hand, rank among the best? Read on to find out, of course!

To reiterate an earlier point, vibe is key to the music of Drizzy. That’s definitely the case on the extremely slow but rhythmic “Not You Too.” Here, Drake enlists Chris Brown for the assist.  Notably, Brown plays more of a background role, interesting considering how much the singer’s voice usually cuts through. There’s a subtlety, like the preceding songs, with the drum programming generally being the most driving aspect of the song. Eventually, one of the pads adds an additional tone color, providing some additional contrast to a record that remains a bit more static for a period of time.  Ultimately, this N-song is enjoyable enough, but not earth shattering.  Again, I feel Chris Brown was, um, misused here, or not necessary…

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2. Black Atlass, “Night After Night”

Dream Awake • XO / Republic • 2020

After a two-year hiatus, Canadian-bred, LA-based musician Alex Fleming, better known as Black Atlass, returned with  his third album, Dream Awake (April 3, 2020). Dream Awake is an enjoyable, sexy, and well-rounded contemporary R&B album.  Those comparisons to The Weeknd – well, their definitely not far-fetched.  That said, Fleming does a fine job throughout the album showing he’s a superb musician in his own right.

“If I can make you love me again / I’ll keep the summertime on your skin / You speedin’ past all our exes / I don’t wanna end up like them.” On “Night After Night” the vibe of Dream Awake continues pops, with sleek production work courtesy of DANNYBOYSTYLES and Oligee. The record brilliantly uses an electronic-based backdrop (keyboards, synths, programming), while remaining idiomatic of R&B, particularly that stellar Canadian R&B sound. Fleming is consistent, continuing to build a love-driven, sensual script, particularly as he ‘brings it on home’ on the chorus.

“My woman
I’ll be your man
And baby I’ll give you my life in your hands
I know you wanna feel alive, don’t you?
Night after night (Night after night)
Night after night (Night after night).”

“Night After Night” appeared on 12 Simply Terrific Before or After Songs, Weekly Gems No. 9 (Steamy Saturday No. 9), and the gargantuan Epilogue: 21 Incredible Highlights from Weekly Gems. Pretty tight cut, huh? Does anyone even say ‘tight’ in that context anymore?

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3. Jhené Aiko, “None of Your Concern” (Ft. Big Sean)

Chilombo • Def Jam • 2020

The song at hand, “None of Your Concern,” is a prime example of a versatile song.  How so? Well, it’s previously graced 11 Songs Filled with Overwhelming Worries,11 Totally Relatable Songs About Exes, and the quirky 10 Songs Loosely Associated with Playback Controls ⏯ ! How did “None of Your Concern” fit into that playback controls list exactly? Well, Jhené Aiko makes it clear her ex should not be concerned about her in the least.  She’s moving FORWARD as in FAST FORWARD… Okay, FAST FORWARD was a bit of a stretch, but whatever!

“None of Your Concern” appears on her third studio album, Chilombo, released in 2020.  Of the album, Aiko told Carl Lamarre of Billboard, “In a sense, I am a like a volcano and this album is an eruption.” Fair enough.  While the album, as a whole, ends up being too long Aiko does a nice job of expressing feelings in the aftermath of a breakup, healing, and ultimately, working towards moving forward.  “None of Your Concern,” which features her ex-boyfriend, Big Sean, marks one of the key moments from Chilombo.

Worth noting, the second song on Chilombo, “Triggered (freestyle),” which precedes “None of Your Concern,” has been speculated to have been directed towards Big Sean.  Regardless, keeping our eye on the prize, there’s no doubt whatsoever that Aiko and Sean address their now defunct relationship and moving beyond on “None of Your Concern.” Obviously, from Aiko’s perspective, “It’s none of your [his] concern anymore,” considering they’re no longer an item.  As for Sean, he cites his problems, the electrifying sex they once had, and states, “I only want the best for you, movin’ forward.”

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4. NCT 127, “Not Alone”

NCT #127 Neo Zone – The 2^nd Album • SM Entertainment • 2020

Sigh, it’s no secret that K-pop has become ‘kind of a big deal’ in the United States, particularly in the mid-10s and into the 20s.  NCT 127 is another Asian boy group (K-pop and J-pop) that’s earned a fair share of attention, though not to the same degree as BTS.  Speaking to their success, their 2020 album, NCT #127 Neo Zone – The 2^nd Album (Neo Zone for short), debuted at no. 5 on the Billboard 200, with 87,000 equivalent album units (83,000 copies sold).  Enough background though – let’s dive into the real reason NCT 127 is on this playlist.  That would be thanks to the song “Not Alone,” which appears as the 12^th song on Neo Zone.

The penultimate track from Neo Zone is a smooth, mid-tempo cut, nearly synonymous with an American urban-pop cut.  Listening to the record from a musical standpoint, producers Soo Man-Lee and Nicki Adamsson could easily helm any number of American pop, R&B, or hip-hop records without a hitch.  The keyboards/synths and drum programming are on-point.  The main contrast with this K-pop record compared to American pop? The language honestly, considering “Not Alone” is almost exclusively sung in Korean. Even so, there are select lines that are sung in English, which is pretty cool to say the least.  Language aside, thematically, “Not Alone” is quite familiar – love; matters of the heart; togetherness.  It previously graced the playlist, 11 Solitary Songs That Are Totally Alone.

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5. J Balvin, “Negro”

Colores • Universal Music • 2020

Latin music saw a substantial uptick in popularity in the United States beginning in the second half of the 2010s.  J Balvin has become one of the most popular artists in Latin music. He’s been quite ubiquitous, collaborating with fellow Latin artists (Bad Bunny, ROSALÎA, etc.) and non- Latin musicians (Beyoncé, Cardi B, and Liam Payne) alike.  His colorful sixth studio album, Colores, is all about him, with consistent, positive results.  “Negro” marks one of the best moments from Colores.

On “Negro” (“Black”), produced by Dee Mad and King Doudou, J Balvin truly has some sickness (as in a sick backdrop) to work with.  Like “Verde” preceding it, Balvin embraces a ‘hip-hop’ approach within the Latino Urbano style. “Negro” is a less melodic record.  Narratively, Balvin paints the picture of a girl that’s bad – as in badass or ‘Bad to the Bone.’

“Shake it, ayy, there’s sand on you
Shake it ayy, ayy, there’s sand on you
Throw it down, mami, don’t be shy…”

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6. 5 Seconds of Summer, “No Shame”

CALM • Interscope • 2020

5 Seconds of Summer certainly changed their sound on their third album, Youngblood (2018), opting for more synths compared to guitars.  That’s where much of pop and even some rock is trending. CALM, their fourth studio album, had been in the works for a while with the collective releasing singles “Easier” and “Teeth” in 2019, and releasing “No Shame” and “Old Me” in 2020.  All in all, CALM ends up being another enjoyable, sleek, and well-rounded album from 5SOS; arguably, the band’s best work yet. “No Shame” ranks among the best songs on the album.

There is no shortage of songwriters on “No Shame” – eight to be precise! Crafting the sleek backdrop from that list is Watt and Happy Perez. The theme and lyrics make “No Shame” perhaps the most interesting. 5 Seconds of Summer speak to the crazy means people go to capture attention.  There are numerous examples, with the best arriving courtesy of the shameful chorus:

“I only light up when cameras are flashin’
Never enough and no satisfaction
Got no shame
I love the way you’re screaming my name...”

Honestly, the boys have a point. All in all, “No Shame” is enjoyable and well-rounded without being life changing.

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7. DaBaby, “Nasty”

Ft. Megan Thee Stallion & Ashanti

Blame it on Baby • Interscope • 2020 

“Nasty,” which has made appearances on Weekly Gems No. 4 (Steamy Saturday No. 4) and and the gargantuan Epilogue: 21 Incredible Highlights from Weekly Gems is among the steamiest, nastiest records I’ve heard in 2020. “Nasty” is a highlight from Blame it on Baby, the 2020 album by DaBaby. Assisted by Megan Thee Stallion and Ashanti, honestly, this just might be the most unapologetic records you’ve heard in years.

The best moment from Blame it On Baby, hands down, is also the nastiest – like pornographic nasty! “Nasty,” the penultimate cut, certainly lives up to its name. DaBaby is freaky AF here – quite X-rated in his sexual endeavors. “She know I’m nasty / She like it when I pull it out and I put it all over her ass cheeks,” he raps on the first verse, later adding, “I take both her legs and I put ‘em behind her head like she a pretzel / Then I pick her up and slam her down on her head like I’m a wrestler…” Woah, Nelly! Perhaps ‘she’ does indeed benefit, but we don’t really know until Megan Thee Stallion puts her two cents in about the level of pleasure on the equally filthy second verse:

“Quit talking that shit, when I drop that pin, come drop that dick
He deep in them covers, this pussy like butter, he put it in damn near nutted
...I put one leg on the headboard and leave the other leg on the mattress
Look down at him while he smackin’ get them headshots like a actress.”

Smackin’ – OMG! There’s more filth from DaBaby, who segues into a third verse, which includes exercise: “I’m doing my push-ups in that pussy.” Yes, absolutely TF “Nasty.”  The classiest part of the songs arrives courtesy of Ashanti, whose 2002 R&B hit, “Baby” is sampled.

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8. Kehlani, “Nights Like This”

Ft. Ty Dolla $ign

While We Wait • Atlantic • 2019

“But all that glitters isn’t gold, I was blinded / Should have never gave you my heart on consignment.” Grammy-nominated R&B singer Kehlani gets the assist from the ever-ubiquitous Ty Dolla $ign on “Nights Like This”, the crown jewel of her 2019 mixtape, While We Wait. There’s plenty to sink your teeth into the night-centric “Nights Like This.” Contextually, like everything that precedes “Night Like This,” her tone and overall performance are a massive selling point. In addition to a sensational, nuanced vocal, “Nights Like This” benefits from its production work. It’s idiomatic of a modern R&B record, yet also has the classical cues that made contemporary R&B pop in the 90s and 00s.

Adding to the excellence is respectable songwriting this is relatable.  The pre-chorus and chorus sections are among the highlights:

“On some nights like this, shawty, I can’t help but think of us
I’ve been reminiscin’, sippin’, missin’ ya
Can you tell me what’s with all this distant love?
If I called, would you pick it up?
On some nights like this, I just wanna text you, but for what
You gon’ say you want me, then go switch it up
Just gon’ play with my emotions just because, no.”

All in all, Kehlani is on-point with “Nights Like This,” with no glaring flaws to be found. “Nights Like This” previously appeared on the playlist, 13 Songs About and/or Associated with Nighttime.

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9. Rex Orange County, “New House”

“New House” • Rex Orange County • 2019

“I can see us in a house next year / (You’ll be) making your mind up / You can figure out what goes where / (And stay) keeping it real with me all the time.” Incredibly gifted.  That’s the best way to describe British alternative musician Rex Orange County (Alex O’Connor). After releasing the triumphant LP Apricot Princess in 2017, he returned in 2019 with a brand-new single, “New House”.

Perfection is hard to achieve, yet, Rex Orange County achieves or nearly achieves it on “New House.” The production work is absolutely magnificent.  The sound palette is broad, including piano, drums, strings, brass, and synths.  Beyond the backdrop and instrumentation, O’Connor sounds great vocally, never forcing anything, but delivering with ‘cool, calm, and collected’ approach without sounding casual or nonchalant.  With production, musicianship, and a ripe set of pipes on his side, perhaps the biggest reason that “New House” is nearly perfect is the songwriting.  O’Connor is a clever writer, with the ability to surprise you with his lyrics. Interestingly, he explores the creative process (“You know that I haven’t been inspired since like I was 18”), in addition to the progression of his relationship, as the aforementioned chorus suggests. “New House” previously appeared on the playlist, 11 ‘New’ Songs That Will Tickle Your Fancy.

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10. Katy Perry, “Never Really Over”

“Never Really Over” • Capitol • 2019

It’s no secret, Witness was NOT one of the brighter moments for Grammy-nominated pop musician Katy Perry.  Throughout her career, Perry has earned her share of big-time hits.  In the case of Witness, she never quite found the same footing. Despite her miscues, “Never Really Over”, which arrived as a single in 2019, was definitely a step in the right direction.

“Never Really Over” sounds sleek from the onset, with its bright synths, pummeling drums, and its optimistic sound.  Zedd and Dreamlab get the credit for a superb backdrop for the pop star.  While it is a bright record set in a major key, Perry reminisces back on exes.  In the pre-chorus she sings, “I tell myself, tell myself, tell myself, ‘Draw the line’ / And I do, I do / But once in a while, I trip up, and I cross the line / And I think of you.” Fittingly, the incredibly catchy chorus finds Perry providing context to the song title – the relationship may be over, but you always remember it:

“Two years, and just like that
My head still takes me back
Thought it was done, but I
Guess it’s never really over
Oh, we were such a mess
But wasn’t it the best?
Thought it was done, but I
Guess it’s never really over.”

It doesn’t end there, as a pre-chorus further analyzes the situation, while in the second verse, Perry is trying to “rewire this brain” with no success.  Hey, it’s “Never Really Over.” Ultimately, “Never Really Over” is a catchy, fun, well-rounded pop record through and through.

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 11. Hozier, “Nina Cried Power”

Ft. Mavis Staples

Wasteland, Baby! • Columbia • 2019

“It’s not the wakin’, it’s the risin’ / It is the groundin’ of a foot uncompromisin’ / It’s not forgoin’ of the lie / It’s not the openin’ of eyes / It’s not the wakin’, it’s the risin’.” Hozier commences Wasteland, Baby! powerfully with “Nina Cried Power”. He’s in full-on soul mode (think gospel), fitting given his legendary collaborator, Mavis Staples.

Both artists pay ode to various musicians who were unafraid to protest via their songs including legends like Nina Simone, James Brown, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and John Lennon.  The chorus, with names changing, is the crème de la crème of the record.

“And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power.” 

“Nina Cried Power” has appeared on multiple playlists: 13 Superb Gospel-Tinged Secular Songs, 100 Best Songs of 2018, 13 Contemporary Protest Anthems, 11 Energetic, Powerful and or Strong Songs, and 13 Songs That Feature Names in Their Title.

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12. Ariana Grande, “No Tears Left to Cry”

Sweetener • Republic • 2018

“Comin’ out, even when it’s rainin’ down / Can’t stop now, can’t stop, so shut your mouth.” “No Tears Left to Cry” marked the first new Ariana Grande single since the Manchester terror attack.  Safe to say, the Grammy-winning pop artist came back strong on the exuberant, uplifting standout from her 2018 album, Sweetener.

“Right now, I’m in a state of mind
I wanna be in, like, all the time
Ain’t got no tears left to cry
So, I’m pickin’ it up, pickin’ it up…”

“No Tears Left to Cry” begins moderately slowly, following the dramatic, lush, and smoothly sung intro (the eventual chorus), a danceable groove transforms “No Tears Left to Cry.” Grande shows exuberance, singing playfully in her lower register on the verses.  She gradually ascends, hitting her stride – her commanding upper register – on the chorus.  The chorus is catchy, though its best attribute is how uplifting it is.

“No Tears Left to Cry” has appeared on multiple playlists including 10 Songs Where You ‘Know’ or ‘No’, 11 More Songs About Crying from Beyond 2010, 15 More Songs That Incorporate Virtues (Vol. II), and 100 Best Songs of 2018.

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13. Marlon Williams, “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore”

Ft. Aldous Harding

Make Way for Love • Dead Oceans • 2018

New Zealand musicians Marlon Williams and Aldous Harding make a brilliant pair on “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore”, a gem from Williams’ 2018 sophomore album, Make Way for Love. Quite the accomplished ‘what’ song, I handpicked “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore” for my elite list of 100 Best Songs of 2018, as well as making an appearance on A Playlist Comprised of 13 ‘What’ Songs.

“Isn’t it strange, impossible to claim your reward.” Ah, Aldous Harding gets first blood on “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore,” exhibiting pure, robust vocals. The initial accompaniment is simply guitar. Simple it may be, the sound is lush and ultimately, appealing. Marlon Williams arrives on the following line, taking command of the verse.

“I cannot explain, emotions I can barely afford to contain
You’re the same, you hide away from anything that turns you on
Nobody gets what they want anymore.”

He delivers equally glorious vocals.  Eventually, following another verse in a similar vein, the two join forces, in exquisite harmonies, singing the titular lyric.  With combined forces comes expanded production that’s more dynamic and fuller in instrumentation. Williams dominates the end of the song, which contrasts the majority, though in the most positive, musical way.

“What am I going to do when you’re in trouble
And you don’t call out for me...”

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14. Ella Mai, “Naked”

Ella Mai • 10 Summers / Interscope • 2018

“Are you ready to fight just to see what’s lost behind my flaws? / Can you love me naked?” Sometimes, associations can be extremely loose. That’s definitely the case with “Naked,” the closing bonus track that appears on Ella Mai, the debut studio album by Ella Mai.  Here, Mai isn’t really referencing physical nudity, which we often associated with nighttime.  I mean, it’s not far-fetched, speaking from the male perspective, to ditch the shirt and strip down to the undies come bedtime, among other enjoyable happenings.  But again, Ella Mai is talking about love beyond imperfections – revealing her flaws and her man loving her beyond them.

Ultimately, “Naked” is an easy-going, soulful, and super-smooth urban contemporary gem. Sure, Ella Mai is stacked with more high-profile hits such as “Boo’d Up”, “Trip”, and “Shot Clock”, but that doesn’t keep “Naked” from being quite the heavy hitter in its own right. Here, Mai sings expressively without ever having to break a sweat.  Her runs are smooth, while even her profane, feisty statements feel natural and never forced.  Sure, ‘night’ only has so much to do with this one but anytime such a thoughtful, well-penned song like “Naked” has even a shot at being featured on a playlist, it totally should be.  “Naked” previously appeared on the playlist, 13 Songs About and/or Associated with Nighttime.

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15. G-Eazy, “No Limit”

Ft. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B

The Beautiful & Damned • RCA • 2017 

Ah, we close 15 N SONGS SELECTED WITH NO RHYME OR REASON with a banger.  That banger, ladies and gentlemen, arrives courtesy of G-Eazy. Yeah, Eazy dropped “No Limit” back in 2017 as the promo single for his third studio album, The Beautiful & Damned.  The Beautiful & Damned was a double album, so you could definitely say that there was no shortage of the playboy himself.

On “No Limit,” he gets high profile assists from Cardi B and A$AP Rocky.  Rocky sets the fuckboy tone of “No Limit,” which totally suits G-Eazy.

“If I hit it one time, I’ma pipe her
If I hit it two times then I like her
If I fuck three times, I’ma wife her
It ain’t safe for the black or the white girls
It ain’t safe, it ain’t safe, it ain’t safe, it ain’t safe.”

G-Eazy follows up with a cocky post-chorus (“Ayy, yeah, fuck with me and get some money…”), as well as a verse that encompasses sex, money, and his uncompromising confidence (“It’s been three days in a row, your bitch coming over…”). He returns for the third verse, referencing Costco rubbers, Damn Daniel, and Saint-Laurent. Cardi B drops the second verse, matching the unapologetic nature of G-Eazy (“Grab a hand full of braids, make your nigga eat me out…”). “No Limit” has previously appeared on numerous playlists, including 10 Songs Where You ‘Know’ or ‘No’, 21 Songs Associated with the Seven Deadly Sins, and just sneaking onto the 100 Best Songs of 2017 year-end list.

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15 N Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason [Photo Credits: 10 Summers, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Columbia, Dead Oceans, Def Jam, Interscope, The Musical Hype, OVO, Pexels, Pixabay, RCA, Republic, Rex Orange County, SM Entertainment, Universal Music, XO]

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