Beat Switch | 5ive Songs

1. Busta Rhymes, “Strap Yourself Down”

Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God • The Conglomerate Entertainment, Inc. / EMPIRE • 2020

Busta Rhymes comes to ‘kick ass and take names’ on “Strap Yourself Down,” one of the best moments from his 2020 comeback album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God. “Strap Yourself Down” sounds like a vintage hardcore, East Coast rap joint, particularly the best part of the record, the beat switch.

Part one is lit in its own right, but when those aggressive, boom-bap drums accompany Busta, he’s on another level. The beat switch alone would’ve been enough to secure the gem status of “Strap Yourself.”

2. Bad Bunny, “Solo de Mi”

X 100PRE • Rimas Entertainment • 2018

On “Solo de Mi”, and standout from X 100PRE, the superb debut album by Bad Bunny, the production ( Tainy and La Paciencia) is da . The first part of the record is incredibly smooth, featuring piano accompaniment, a chill, rhythmic reggaetón groove, and rhythmic, pop-rap vocals from Bad Bunny. A switch-up makes the record become more aggressive, embracing the ‘trap’ element.

Matching the intensity of the second half, Bad Bunny is more assertive. Lyrically, on the chorus, he makes it clear that his ex- shouldn’t waste her time trying to get with him. On the verse, he places all the blame on her, asserting, “It’ wasn’t me who decided / It was you who fucked it up.” He’s definitely not happy with her – that isn’t the last f-bomb he utters either.

3. Kendrick Lamar, “DNA.”

DAMN. • Interscope • 2017

“I got, I got, I got, I got – / Loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA / Cocaine quarter piece, got war and peace inside my DNA…” Well, ‘DAMN.’ () does “DNA.” bang hard from the jump! On the highlight from his 2017, Grammy/Pulitzer Prize winning album, Kendrick Lamar shares the composition of his DNA – duh! Ultimately, various things characterize him.

“And excellent mean the extra work
And absentness what the fuck you heard
And pessimists never struck my nerve...”

K-Dot raps in maddening fashion, showcasing insane wordplay. The bridge (“This is my heritage, all I’m inheritin’ / Money and power, the mecca of marriages”) divides the song into contrasting parts, addressing the ubiquitous topic of racism.  The second verse, following the beat switch, is definitely the most ferocious. That new beat tho – it kicks some serious a$$!

4. Jay Rock, “King’s Dead”

Ft. Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake

Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired By • Interscope • 2018

Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake join forces for hard-nosed banger “King’s Dead” from Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired By.  From the start, the beat is trunk rattling. Kendrick Lamar drops a ferocious hook.  Jay Rock gets ‘first blood’ on the first verse, matching the toughness of the backdrop. Future follows, with a variation on the hook, assisted by K-Dot.  He’s a perfect fit – this sounds like his elite, outlandish hooks.

“Fuck his baby mama tryna sneak diss / I took her to my penthouse, then I freaked it / I haven’t made my mind up, should I keep it? / I got big dog status, it ain’t no secret.” The bridge, mostly performed by Future, is bizarre, including the famous lyric, “Slob on [me] knob.” Later, James Blake initiates the second part of the song, in all his enigmatic, electronic excellence.  Lamar then proceeds to go H.A.M. on the second verse of the song.  The beat (which switches) and overall sound remains hard-hitting.

“Red light, green light, red light, green light...
Fast cars, fast money, fast life, fast broads
Egotistic, goin’ ballistic, why God?”

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5. Jon Bellion, “New York Soul – Pt. ii”

The Human Condition •  Capitol •  2016

“New Yorker in California, packed Brooklyn up in this bag / I’m in Malibu with the Bronx, she’s in Kevin Love with your man.” Jon Bellion definitely brings a sense of adventure and plenty of alternativeness to pop music.  He even managed to get some more mainstream attention on his 2016 album, The Human Condition.  One of his best moments from the album was when he busted out the bars and showed pride for his hometown/state on “New York Soul – Pt. ii.”

“New York Soul – Pt. ii” is Jon Bellion to the core.  There is colorful, intriguing production work, with some badass beat/production switches in the process.  Bellion is confident AF, packing some punch behind his bars, particularly when he denounces “fuck boy rap” on the second verse. Adding to the allure, Alec Benjamin serenades on the Brooklyn-loving chorus (“Lay me down in Brooklyn if I lose my life /… I did everything for New York”).

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