Alluring Songs Where the Keyword is Back, Vol. 2 | Playlist 🎧

1. Trey Songz, “Back Home”

Ft. Summer Walker

💿 Back Home • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2020

“Ayy, I could cuss you out, hit my side bitch / You think she flew out; I deny it.”  Must be love! 🎵 “Back Home”, the title track from 💿 Back Home, the eighth studio album by Trey Songz, depicts a love-hate relationship.  This contemporary R&B record features sleek urban production work by Chrishan and Hitmaka.  The backdrop consists of a robust bass line, keyboards, and more of a ‘throwback’ R&B beat. With the vibe established, Trey Songz does work vocally.  His tone is rich and sexy.  Worth noting, he seems to place more emphasis on love as opposed to sex compared to previous cuts (“If it isn’t love, why I keep coming back / I keep coming back, back home”).

Summer Walker excels on the second verse, providing a response to Trey’s dedication, continuing to capture the love-hate dynamic perfectly:

“You get on my damn nerves
Then I say that I’m done
Then I miss you in the middle of the club.”

Trey responds with a final verse, confirming that despite their disagreements, “It’s never really over” because, again, “If this isn’t love, why do I keep coming back?”

2. Trina, “Look Back at Me”

Ft. Killer Mike

💿 Still Da Baddest • 🏷 Slip N’ Slide • 🗓 2008

“Licky, licky, licky licky, licky for an hour / I’mma make it rain for you, here’s a golden shower.” Sigh, there is so much freakiness involved in 🎵 “Look Back at Me” (💿 Still Da Baddest, 2008), among the dirtiest songs EVER – the exemplification of X-rated! Trina is assisted by Killer Mike. Mike definitely doesn’t clean things up, making a mess of his own, to the tune of, “Gave her mayonnaise on the face pearl necklace.”

In addition to pearl necklaces, “Look Back at Me” is chocked-full of paraphilias, or “conditions in which a person’s sexual arousal and gratification depends on fantasizing about and engaging in sexual behavior that is atypical and extreme.” The paraphilias Trina covers: Urolagnia (sexual arousal via urine), Narratophilia (dirty talk),  Olfactophilia/Osmolagnia (“carnal interest in and stimulation by body odors…”) and Nasophilia (nose).  WOW! A prime example of Narratophilia?

“Put this pussy in your jaws now, smack
Like it’s Thanksgiving and it ain’t coming back
Collard greens neck bones, nigga chew this ass.”

“Look Back at Me” has appeared on multiple playlists.

Also appears on 🔽:

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🔗 🎧 15 Songs Where Female Rappers Gettin’ Down ‘N’ Dirty

3. Omar Apollo, “Stayback”

💿 Apolonio • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2020

Young, handsome, open-minded and gifted Mexican American musician Omar Apollo captivates on the short, but sweet and incredibly soulful 🎵 “Stayback”. “Stayback” appears as the fourth track from his 2020 mini-album, 💿 Apolonio.  The recurring lyric, “I can’t help that you been on my mind,” confirms the love-centric nature of the record.  Furthermore, check out the music video – a wild party and Apollo locking eyes with a guy – (perhaps a former lover or past love interest) – and you’ll get the gist.  2:40 is ample time for him provide us with a soulful hit, diving into R&B, alternative R&B, and neo-soul. Amongst the cool sounds are distorted guitar, a rad guitar solo (Omar’s guitarist, Oscar), and a robust bass line. The groove is simple but incredibly effective, anchoring the record down superbly.

Vocally, Omar sounds utterly sublime; he excels in this vibe, without questions.  His falsetto is ripe, while his playful delivery is incredibly alluring.  As far as the songwriting, the catchy chorus is definitely the centerpiece:

“You know I been feeling you since way back
But I couldn’t even make the words to say that, say that
If I could switch bodies you know I’d change that, change that
But you could never love me so stayback, stayback.”

Omar remembers a relationship from the past but also seeks to move past it, having his former lover “stay back.” Essentially, his love issues/pain/plight are our listening pleasure, hence why this awesome song 🎧 tickled my fancy in August 2020!

4. Claire Rosinkranz, “Backyard Boy”

💿 BeVerly Hills BoYfRiEnd [EP] • 🏷 Purple Monkey Recordz • 🗓 2020

In need of another BACK song? Well, we’ve got the hook up for with 🎵 “Backyard Boy,” which appears as the opener from 💿 BeVerly Hills BoYfRiEnd, the 2020 EP from Claire Rosinkranz. At the time of its arrival, the California artist is the ripe old age of 16 – pretty cool. She keeps things short and sweet as “Backyard Boy” runs just north of two minutes in duration.

“Dance with me in my backyard boy / Looking super fine in your corduroy…” “Backyard Boy” is quite fun, groovy, sunny, and innocent.  Claire paints a picture of utter perfection where everything feels totally right (“(Da-da-da-da-da) / Everything is perfect /… Backyard boy, you make me nervous”). The vibe is lit, of course, in the most innocent, sunny way possible. Worth noting, there are several different mixes of “Backyard Boy” including a remix with Jeremy Zucker and a “Stripped” version.

5. J. Cole, “The Climb Back”

🎵 Lewis Street [Single] • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2020

On 🎵 “The Climb Back”, Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole shows just how superb he is at his craft. He’s on autopilot on “The Climb Back,” producing the track himself with solid results.  It’s not extremely flashy sounding, but it suits his flow perfectly.  More intriguing than the backdrop is the forefront, where he absolutely slaughters the mic.  On this conscious rap joint, he covers a lot of ground with plenty of clever, lyrical references.  Early on, on the first verse, his wordplay is stellar as he rhymes, joint and points, and manages to use points referencing exclamation points, as well as point guard in basketball (“My nigga shoot first as if they never played the point, more two guards…”).

Of course, that particular line runs much deeper than basketball.  Basketball is fun, but this is real life, and Cole is ensuring the world is fully woke. There’s always a message and “The Climb Back” delivers, encompassing the black experience throughout.  This includes gun violence, where Cole, woke as ever, asserts on the outro:

“Everybody mentions suicide prevention
Man, they even made a hotline
To call up when there’s tension, but I got a question
What about a fuckin’ homicide
Need a number for my niggas to call
Whenever there’s a urge to get triggers involved...”

Honestly, a full essay could be penned regarding “The Climb Back.” Ultimately, J. Cole does what he always does – absolutely kill it.  Great production, great flow, and no shortage of incredibly potent rhymes helped to earn this gem a spot on 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: July 2020.

6. Lindsay Lohan, “Back to Me”

“Back to Me” • Casablanca / UMG Recordings, Inc. • 2020

“I used to blame me when shit got crazy (Hey) / I can’t think too much ‘bout what they say…” It goes without saying that things have been incredibly turbulent for Lindsay Lohan for a long, long time.  I would even go so far as to call it the exemplification of a train wreck.  The acting career went south, while the music career was marginal at best. Still, Lohan experienced some success musically, particularly her 2004 album, Speak (“Rumors” comes to mind). How does Lohan fit into pop 15 years since her last album (A Little More Personal (RAW))? She sings about her struggles and her return on 🎵 “Back to Me”.

“Back to Me” is perfectly in line with 2020 pop. Mark Ralph serves as the producer, and the bag of tricks is in full effects.  There are bright synths, a danceable groove, and pitch shifted vocals.  Vocally, Lindsay Lohan sounds fine too, perhaps much chagrin to the haters. She doesn’t give a performance that signifies ‘the second coming,’ but if anything, she sounds better than anticipated. Give her credit for ‘getting herself together,’ at least within the context of the song. “My life is full of ripped up pages / I’ve been weak, contagious / But I’m coming back, I’m coming back to me,” she asserts on the pre-chorus. She emphasizes her comeback on the repetitive chorus, while the verses really aim at that redemption: “When life gets harder / And the mind gets darker / Remind myself, never too late.” The big takeaway? “Back to Me” is better than expected, a definitely worthy of a spot on this BACK-fueled list.

7. Max Frost, “Back in the Summer”

🎵 “Back in the Summer” • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2020

“You know that I got regrets / But I burn those shits like cigarettes / Because something’s out of place /… I wish we could just reset…” Hmm, “Burn those shits like cigarettes” – what a lyric. Max Frost is an ‘alternative’ musician from Austin, Texas. Musically, the incredibly talented artist incorporates numerous styles, carving out his own fresh, unique sound. 🎵 “Back in the Summer” ‘warmed up’ January 2020 with its reminiscent, summery vibes.

What’s better and more effective than a reminiscent single about summer and love? On the chorus, Frost recollects:

“Back in the summer
When we were lovers
And we had real big dreams in our heads
We were together
Called it forever
Even though all good times have an end
Wish that I could go back again.”

Beyond the reminiscent lyrics, the music is pretty sweet. Best characterized as a ‘pop’ record, it features sleek electronic production work. The synths are striking, while the groove is hip; there’s an abundance of ear candy.  Adding to that ear candy is the performance by Frost himself, who delivers agile, rhythmic melodic lines with an awesome, lighthearted approach. Even with so many fast-paced, rhythmic melodic lines, there are some more legato, melodic lines that show off the colorful nature of his voice.  Listeners get the full complement. Yeah, Max ‘puts in work’ on this enjoyable, summery gem.

Also appears on 🔽:

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8. Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”

💿 Southside • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 2020

“The way she fit in them blue jeans, she don’t need no belt / But I can turn them inside out, I don’t need no help / Got hips like honey, so thick and so sweet /It ain’t no curves like hers on them downtown streets.” 🎵 “Body Like a Back Road”, the Grammy-nominated hit by Sam Hunt, appeared on the country musician’s long awaited, 2020 sophomore album, 💿 Southside.  Even so, it felt like it arrived ages ago. Why? Well, “Body Like a Back Road” was originally released as a single in early 2017!

Yes, “Body Like a Back Road” is polarizing; some liked it, others panned it.  Regardless, on this innuendo-driven hit, Hunt knows his wife, really well, likening her body – specifically her curves – to a backroad. He also describes the sex in driving, road-speak as well.

“Body like a back road, drivin’ with my eyes closed
I know every curve like the back of my hand
Doin’ 15 in a 30, I ain’t in no hurry
I’ma take it slow just as fast as I can.”

9. Diplo, “Look Back”

Ft. Shelley FKA DRAM

💿 California [EP] • 🏷 Mad Decent • 🗓 2018

It’s always special when two unlikely musicians join forces.  That’s the case on 🎵 “Look Back” (💿 California [EP]) where producer Diplo enlists the services of Shelley FKA DRAM. “Look Back” features dynamic production with touches of guitar, keyboards, bass, and big drums.  The sound stylistically can be described as a mix of pop, rock, and soul.  As with many productions with Diplo on the boards, the result is a distinct sounding record.  Continuing to praise the backdrop, a great feature is the pummeling drums that lead into the chorus.

While Diplo is ‘on his game’ as always, he couldn’t pull off “Look Back” without Shelley, who is a truly special talent.  Here, he blesses the track with truly expressive, soulful vocals.  Adding to the well-rounded performance, he spoils us with falsetto.  There’s also a killer chorus, which he kills with biting vocals and some sick runs.

“And I haven’t looked back, uh
Since I made up my mind
To never look behind, no
And I haven’t looked back, uh
For a very long time
I don’t, I don't see myself looking back for you, man
Reason why is cause I’m only looking forward, man.”

10. BØRNS, “I Don’t Want U Back”

💿 Blue Madonna • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 2018

“I should’ve known better when you’re coming to bed at four in the morning / I should’ve taken your eyes avoiding me as a warning.” Uh-oh – relationship issues! Michigan bred, Cali-based alternative musician BØRNS nails it on 🎵 “I Don’t Want U Back”, a single from his 2018 sophomore album, 💿 Blue Madonna. The biggest selling point of “I Don’t Want You Back” is his distinct, beautiful voice.

BØRNS exhibits a beastly, yet radiant tone with his high-pitched vocals. The falsetto is masterful to say the least.  Additionally, the production shimmers, while the songwriting is both memorable and thoughtful, particularly the chorus.

“I sleep better than every night you were lying next to me
Don’t wanna see your face, you need to face the facts
I don’t want you back.”

Also, worth noting, “I Don’t Want U Back” received music theory analysis from myself in a short-lived column, and has managed to appear on multiple playlists.

Also appears on 🔽:

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11. Amy Winehouse, “Back to Black”

💿 Back to Black • 🏷 Universal Island • 🗓 2006

“We’ve only said goodbye with words / I died a hundred times / You got back to her, and I go back to / I go back to black.” In a showdown for the ages, 🎙 Amy Winehouse seemed a lock to win the highly coveted Album of the Year at the 🏆 50^th Annual Grammy Awards with the soulful masterwork, 💿Back in Black.  She was in what was perceived to be dead heat with Kanye West (Graduation), but after winning five awards that evening, it seemed like a done deal.  Of course, by now, everyone knows that arguably the biggest underdog ever, 💿 River: The Joni Letters by veteran jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, shocked the world (and him too).  Regardless, Back in Black has easily cemented its place in musical history, with 🎵 “Back in Black” leading the charge (behind “Rehab” and perhaps “You Know I’m No Good” of course).

“Back in Black” is a magnificent record, but incredibly dark.  Set in a minor key, the mood and the tone is clear from the jump.  “He left no time to regret / Kept his dick wet with his same old safe bet,” she sings at the beginning of the first verse, continuing, “Me and my head high / And my tears dry, get on without my guy.” Her expressive, throaty vocals clearly indicate the pain she’s experiencing: a bad breakup and depression, heightened by the fact that her ex went back to his ex-girlfriend. The second verse features some my favorite lyrics from the entire song (besides the aforementioned chorus, of course):

“I love you so much, it’s not enough
You love blow and I love puff
And life is like a pipe
And I’m a tiny penny rollin’ up the walls inside.”

12. Kendrick Lamar, “Backseat Freestyle”

💿 Good Kid m.A.A.d City • 🏷 Aftermath / Interscope • 🗓 2012

🎵 “Backseat Freestyle” ends up being one of the best cuts from 💿 Good Kid m.A.A.d City, otherwise known as the album where the Recording Academy totally screwed Kendrick Lamar over. The Heist (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis) over Good Kid m.A.A.d City, really? Since then, the Grammys have been kinder, but they also screwed his Pulitzer Prize winner DAMN. over for Album of the Year too.  Anyways, “Backseat Freestyle” is a perfect fit for ALLURING SONGS WHERE THE KEYWORD IS BACK, VOL. 2, regardless of the out of touch votes from the Recording Academy.

Hit-Boy delivers some of his best production work, fueling K-Dot to drop some mad bars on us. The intro, later reiterated as the outro, is addictive, particular over the beat: “Martin had a dream, Martin had a dream, Kendrick have a dream…”  Lamar remains on autopilot throughout, particularly his confident hook:

“All my life I want money and power
Respect my mind or die from lead shower
I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower
So I can fuck the world for 72 hours...”

Lamar never lets up here, remaining relevant and uncompromising, which is the magic of “Backseat Freestyle.” It represents both childish fodder yet also lofty self-esteem and aspiration.

13. Khia, “My Neck, My Back”

💿 Thug Misses • 🏷 Essential Media Group • 🗓 2002

“All you ladies pop your pussy like this / Shake your body: don’t stop, don’t miss.” Yep, that how 🎵 “My Neck, My Back” commences.  Geeze Louise! Khia is a one-hit wonder who we’ll never forget, thanks to this absolutely filthy record. The hook is simple, direct, and utterly shocking: “My neck, my back / Lick my pussy and my crack.”

WTF? Crack? On the verses, Khia takes the time to educate her man on how she likes to be pleasured.  She doesn’t refrain or go off topic.

“First you gotta put your neck into it
Don’t stop, just do it
Then you roll your tongue
From the crack back to the front
Then you suck it all ‘til I shake and cum, nigga
Make sure I keep busting nuts, nigga
All over your face and stuff...”

OMG.  There’s more, but you can listen to this ridiculous filthy on your own.  Yeah, you definitely want to listen to it on your own…at home… not work.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 10 Filthy Songs by Female Rapper

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