Good Man | 3 to 5 BOPS

Good Man: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 42 (2023), features musical BOPS courtesy of Angie Stone, DJ Khaled, Maverick Sabre, Ne-Yo, and Walker.

Ah, you know what time it is! It’s 3 to 5 BOPS time – WOO! On 3 to 5 BOPS, it’s all about brevity and sweetness… for the most part! There’s a theme/topic, 3, 4, or 5 songs, and a blurb – two paragraphs or less.  3 to 5 BOPS, hence, is a mini playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  In the 42nd edition of 3 to 5 BOPS (2023), we select songs that are associated with a GOOD MAN in some form or fashion. The BOPS arrive courtesy of 🎙 Angie Stone, 🎙 DJ Khaled, 🎙 Maverick Sabre, 🎙 Ne-Yo, and 🎙 Walker. Okay, let’s get into it!

1. Angie Stone, “Good Man” 

💿 Love Language • 🏷 Conjunction Entertainment / SoNo Recording Group • 🗓 2023

“Can’t nobody love me like you do / ‘Cause there’s nothing like the love of a good man.” Ah, the feels! 💿 Love Language, the 10th studio album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated, R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Angie Stone continues focused on LOVE and all of its glory – DUH! On the fourth track, 🎵 “Good Man,” another sharp advance single, Stone enjoys the perks of a real one – a good man. “I’ve been talking to God / Not trying to sleep on the man of my dreams (Man of my dreams),” she sings in the first verse, continuing, “‘Cause you’ve been so good to me (To me) / It’s my pleasure to hold you down (Hold you down).” Stone puts her faith and trust into this godsend, PERIOD.  Backed by a backdrop that balances old and new school (🎛 Walter Millsap III, Teak Underdue, Candice Nelson, and Balewa Muhammad produce), the veteran neo-soulstress is on autopilot while celebrating this awesome male 💪.      

2. Walker, “Good Man” 

🎵 “Good Man” • 🏷 Amphibious Accountant • 📅 2023

“Yes, I’m a good man / I’ll take care of you.” Sometimes, however, the proof is required.  Take one listen to 🎵 “Good Man” by 🎙 Walker (Walker Landgraf). The singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist may have to prove to his lover that he is a good man – the theme of this compelling gem – but take one listen to this song and he easily proves he’s a good… musician.  “Good Man” stands out among so many songs released in 2023 because of its refined, sophisticated sound.  The backdrop is both jazzy and soulful. It benefits from a robust bass line and sugary sweet guitar.  Furthermore, the underpinnings – the harmonic progression – adds uniqueness.  Expanding the chords utilized always adds distinction.  Arguably, the biggest selling point is the voice. Walker sings in a cool, calm, and collected fashion – he never sounds as if he breaks a sweat.  That cool confidence is sure to convince his lover that he is indeed a “Good Man.” 

3. DJ Khaled, “Good Man” (Ft. Pusha T & Jadakiss) 

💿 Grateful • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2017  

🎙 DJ Khaled receives his fair share of criticism.  Is it justified? At times 😏. That said, at other times, the 🏆 Grammy winner manages to curate and ‘produce’ successful collaborations. On such successful collaboration occurs on his 2017 album, 💿 Grateful, with the song, 🎵 “Good Man.” Here, two of the grimiest, toughest rappers – 🎙 Pusha T and 🎙 Jadakiss – appear on the same track 🔥. Naturally, both are on autopilot. Pusha T drops plenty of bullets in the first verse including, “At this point now, rap is only therapy / President Push – I’m more Eric B. / I ain’t no joke – check out my melody / Felony, felony, felony, that’s all they selling me.”  As for Jadakiss, in the third verse (King Push gets two verses),he spits, “Lord, bless those praying for my downfall / If I get too deep, don’t let me drown, y’all / Hearing ‘em talking ‘bout how to flip a key / Started moving that Daddy Kane and Nicky D.” Woo! In addition to enthralling rhymes, a sample of 🎵 “Am I A Good Man”, performed by 🎙 Them Two, provides the fuel for the fire.  Khaled produces the cut alongside 🎛 808-Ray.   

4. Maverick Sabre, “Good Man” 

💿 Don’t Forget to Look Up • 🏷 FAMM • 📅 2022  

“I tried to be a good man (good man) / But you don’t believe me / But you don’t believe me.” Ugh, I guess it is a hard sell, 🎙 Maverick Sabre.  The good news is, Sabre’s talent is NOT a hard sell! The Irish singer/songwriter and rapper thoroughly impresses on 🎵 “Good Man,” a highlight from his 2022 album, 💿 Don’t Forget to Look Up.  The voice is the biggest selling point after listening.  Here, Sabre shows off his smooth, soulful pipes.  His falsetto is ripe, warm, and incredibly inviting. He sounds at his very best on the utterly radiant chorus.  Beyond defending himself within the songwriting (“Don’t know why you thought that / I would be the one to bring you down, down, down /… I only gave the best of me / What more did you expect of me”) and elite vocals, the production (🎛 Linden Jay) is utterly sublime.  What more can you ask for than this soulful backdrop comprised of guitar, bass, keys, and an awesome drum groove?   

5. Ne-Yo, “Good Man” 

💿 Good Man • 🏷 Motown • 📅  2018   

Following a three-year hiatus, Grammy-winning R&B artist 🎙 Ne-Yo returned with his seventh studio album, 💿 Good Man. The singer-songwriter’s best work arguably came in 00s, with a run of albums including In My Own Words, Because of You, and Year of the Gentleman.  Nonetheless, Shaffer Smith had his moments in the 10s. Good Man doesn’t reach the heights of the aforementioned albums, but he has some noteworthy moments, including the title track.  The soulful production of 🎵 “Good Man” is the first hint that Ne-Yo is at his best; true to self. 🎙 D’Angelo fuels the fire with 🎵 “Untitled (How Does It Feel?)” is sampled brilliantly. Vocally, he remains smooth with his relatively light, easygoing vocals.  He sings the rhythmic melody with great agility, incorporating oomph via nuance and personality. He’s backed by supporting vocals, straight out of the soul and R&B of the past.  A shock to no one, the chorus, in all its simplicity, is the centerpiece.     

“So, I just wanna be a good man, good man to you, girl  

That’s all I want to be, baby.” 

“Good Man” is more traditional than modern, but that’s the lane Ne-Yo has excelled. His more traditional R&B approach, while sprinkling in just the right amount of contemporary, hip-hop, and swagger is when he’s most compelling. Sounds pretty damn good to me!   

Appears in 🔻:  

• 11 More Really ‘Good’ Songs… It’s That Simple (2020)

via GIPHY

Good Man: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 42 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Amphibious Accountant, Conjunction Entertainment / SoNo Recording Group, Epic, FAMM, Motown; Natan via Pexels]