Daniel Caesar, Who Hurt You? | Track Review 🎵

Canadian R&B singer/songwriter Daniel Caesar continues to prove himself as a bright spot in modern R&B with his sensual “Who Hurt You?”

“Strange new addictions picked up on the road / Changed my opinions and changed-up my flows / Changed my approach, no more loving these hoes / And when it rains it pours, yeah.” Grammy-nominated Canadian singer/songwriter Daniel Caesar is among the bright spots in modern R&B music. His 2017 album, Freudian, was easily among the best of the year, regardless of genre.  Post-Freudian, Caesar returns with an intriguing single, “Who Hurt You?”

“Who Hurt You?” begins with an extremely slow, almost lethargic tempo.  This slow jam is fitting for Daniel Caesar, who instantly gets to work.  The resulting sound is soulful, nuanced, and nothing short of brilliant.  Also, it should be noted that Caesar focuses on sex and the urges that he has towards a specific girl named Priscilla.  “I might fly Priscilla out just for ‘Bana,” he sings on the first verse, continuing, “So mesmerized by that ass.”  He goes on to say on the pre-chorus, “You make me feel so primal and / That’s what I am, I’m just a man.” Naturally, on the chorus, the p-word comes into play:

“Take that pussy, drop it in my lap
I love it when you move like that
Now turn around and throw it back, it back, it back.”

On the second verse, Caesar continues to be obsessed with Priscilla (“Booties just don’t shake like Priscilla’s do”). Notably, during this verse, Caesar’s voice sounds starkly different, purposely.  Thankfully, he returns to all his natural glory on the following refrain.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Daniel Caesar continues to impress on sexed-up, slow-paced “Who Hurt You?” Perhaps he doesn’t supplant his most brilliant moments from Freudian (“Get You”, “We Find Love” and “Blessed” come to mind), but he continues to prove why he’s among the best in urban contemporary music as of late.

Daniel Caesar • Who Hurt You? – Single • Golden Child Recordings • Release: 10.19.18

Photo Credit: Golden Child Recordings