Hair | 5 Gems

Reading Time: 11 min read

Hair: 5 Gems No. 26 (2026) features songs by Alaska Thunderfuck, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Noah Kahan, WILLOW, and Ying Yang Twins.

“I’m so happy for your HAIRCUT; I’m glad you got your act clean.”

Those are the words of one Noah Kahan. Haircut is the keyword. As for a nine-year-old WILLOW, she informed the world, in 2010, “I whip my HAIR back and forth / I whip my HAIR back and forth (Just whip it).” How about some drag in your life? Alaska Thunderfuck made it crystal clear, “I’m BRUNETTE now / Have you seen my HAIR?” Hair is the common thread between those three artists, as well as Bob Marley & The Wailers and Ying Yang Twins on Hair: 5 Gems No. 26 (2026). What more needs to be said? Grab your favorite toupee or wig, or go all natural, if you wish, and let’s get into these hair-driven songs!

~ Table of Contents ~

1. Noah Kahan, “Haircut”

2. Alaska Thunderfuck, “Brunette

3. WILLOW, “Whip My Hair”

4. Ying Yang Twins, “Pull My Hair”

5. Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Crazy Baldhead”

5 Gems (2026)

1. Noah Kahan, “Haircut”

The Great Divide » Mercury Records / UMG Recordings, Inc. » 2026

“Storm took the phone lines down, and now your ride can’t call / And you’re bouncing off the walls.”

And so begins “Haircut”. Noah Kahan continues singing, “I stretched my arms real wide, tried to break your fall / But you got up, mad as hell, and told me that I had it all.” Ooh-wee! “Haircut” is the ninth track from The Great Divide, the fourth studio album by the Grammy-nominated Vermont singer-songwriter. Noah and Nina de Vitry wrote “Haircut.” Noah produced it with Gabe Simon.

“Haircut” begins abruptly with Noah Kahan singing the lyrics excerpted earlier. This is a conspicuous start to say the least. “Haircut” checks off the usual boxes for the singer-songwriter: superb singing, captivating songwriting, and strong production characteristic of folk, folk-pop, and indie-folk. From the jump, Kahan is locked 🔒 in vocally. Showing off his magnificent tone, he is commanding and delivers an expressive, nuanced performance. Instinctually, he understands when to dig into the performance – add some grit and put some stank on it! Of course, the crème de la crème of any N.K. song is the striking lyrics. Memorably, at the end of both verses, Kahan sings, “You told me, ‘If a lie turned true, a lie it would still be / You ain’t a goddamn hero now ‘cause you cry on live TV’.” Beyond intriguing writing, the melodies are tuneful and rhythmic. The chorus marks the section to beat, featuring the most memorable lyrics and melody.

“But at least I got a soul still, even if I’m in a bad place

Even if I’m eatin’ fast food, sleepin’ at my dad’s place

I’m so happy for your haircut, I’m glad you got your act clean

You’re showin’ up like bad news and leavin’ like a bad dream.”

The bridge stands out, too, led by its biting opening line: “Drove your ass home.” Noah said what he said! Spotlighting the accompaniment, various string instruments, such as mandolin, fiddle, dobro guitar, and baritone guitar, make it sound quite folksy. All in all, “Haircut” marks another winner from Noah Kahan. Face it, has getting the ears lowered ever sounded better? Nope! This bop is best experienced by simply listening.

Appears in:

Noah Kahan, Haircut: Bangerz N Bopz No. 53 (2026)

~ Table of Contents ~

2. Alaska Thunderfuck, “Brunette”

“Brunette” » Alaska Thunderfuck / PEG Records » 2026

“I’m brunette now / I’m brunette now / Have you seen my hair? / I’m brunette now.”

Alaska Thunderfuck (Justin Honard) made it crystal clear that she is brunette now. Not only does she say so explicitly, but she also named her single “Brunette”. Oh, and later, for good measure, she informs us: “My hair is brown, brown / Work it down / Shake this pussy all over town.” Word. Alaska composed “Brunette” with Ash Gordon and producer Stefan Lit.

“Brunette” is fabulous, fierce, and fun. It’s not deep, nor is it intended to be. It benefits from a sickening danceable groove and electrifying synths. Adding to the ferociousness, it’s set in a minor key. With the intense accompaniment fueling her fire, Alaska serves up playful vocals. She exhibits a confident, mean (in the best way possible) personality. “Can’t erase me / Let the darkness take me,” she sings, and continues, “But it will only break me / Only you can save me.” Ooh-wee! At some point, she experiences a “Chemical reaction,” admitting, “I’m becoming someone new.” And guess who it is? A brunette – duh! The ‘bridge’ is intense with the rhythmic synths: “My hair is dark / As dark as my mind /Reflecting the world / I am leaving behind / I’ve opened the door / I’ve opened my eyes / My hair is brown.” #BRUNETTE. The bridge distinguishes itself from the rest of the song. All in all, “Brunette” marks another fun one from Alaska Thunderfuck. Will it change your life? Probably not, but if you’re embracing your brunette status, or if you just need a bop to enhance the playlist, this song gets the job done… FIERCELY!

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3. WILLOW, “Whip My Hair”

“Whip My Hair” » Roc Nation, LLC » 2010

“I whip my hair back and forth / I whip my hair back and forth (Just whip it).”

Ooh-wee! WILLOW (Willow Smith), the daughter of Academy and Grammy award-winner Will Smith and actress-musician Jada Pinkett Smith, has charted only three songs on the pop chart. Two of those three songs were attributed to her as the lead artist. Only one reached the top 40: “Whip My Hair”. “Whip My Hair” just missed the top 10, actually, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. If we judge only by her chart success, Smith is considered a one-hit wonder. But, beyond the multiplatinum status of “Whip,” even though other singles failed to chart, she has earned some platinum plaques courtesy of the Recording Industry Association of America. What’s unbelievable is how old Smith was when the hit single was released – five days shy of her 10^th birthday. “Whip My Hair” was written by WILLOW, Ronald M. Jackson, Janae Rockwell, and producers OmArr and Jukebox.

Although WILLOW was only nine when she recorded and released “Whip My Hair,” she brought plenty of attitude. Does the song give that bubblegum pop experience like many children, pre-teen, and teen musicians? Yes, of course it does. The chorus, excerpted above, is silly and simple. Even so, it’s also infectious, making “Whip” a surefire earworm. Beyond the chorus, the verses are fun. Confident, a young WILLOW informs us that she “Hop up out the bed, turn my swag on / Pay no attention to them haters because we whip ‘em off.” Honestly, that’s good advice for folks much older. Similarly, in the second verse, she’s feeling herself too: “Soon as I hit the stage, applause, I’m hearing it.” She adds, “But can’t none of them whip it like I do.” Word! In the pre-chorus, unfazed by the haters, she “Don’t let haters get me off my grind,” and intends to “Keep fighting until I get there.” Empowering! Beyond her strong vocal performance, the background slaps: the synths, the beat, and a minor key. WILLOW has since released some great music post-“Whip My Hair” (looking at you “b i g f e e l i n g s”), but this one-hit wonder remains her ace-in-the-hole.

Appears in 🔻:

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4. Ying Yang Twins, “Pull My Hair”

**Ying Yang Twins » U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta) » The Orchard » 2005**

“Fucking like dogs / Me and Shorty off of the walls / And I like it when she play with the balls.”

👀 What more is there to say but, woof, woof 🐶! The Ying Yang Twins aren’t family-friendly, that’s for sure! The Atlanta rap duo gets N-A-S-T-Y on the freaky banger, “Pull My Hair”. “Pull My Hair” appears on their platinum-certified, 2005 album, U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta). Produced by Mr. Collipark, D-Roc and Kane get busy (aka doing it, aka getting down and dirty). The booty is not safe in their hands!

The intro, performed by the girl, sets the tone of “Pull My Hair.” Bluntly, she’s on some sexy shit, alluding to “Wait (The Whisper Song)” and setting up the, dare I say, fuckery. D-Roc takes it and runs with it in the first verse, calling her on talking “a whole lot of shit.” Mentioning his ding-a-ling, he expresses how it’s going down: “First off with brain and I’m a beat the pussy / Hit it from the back and beat the pussy up.” He doesn’t stop there, of course. Touting his length, he adds, “Now ride on the dick like you were dancing in the club,” and, “Now turn your ass around and let me hit it from behind ya / Put a big dick inside ya / I’m a hit it from the back while I’m pulling your hair.” Kane isn’t left out of the filthiness in the second verse. Arguably, he’s even hornier! “That pussy from the back, I’m a get it,” he spits, and continues, “I’m walking over to ya with the rubber (oooh) / Your ass in trouble (Is it up high enough?).” 😳 He concludes: “I got a ten-foot pole / That’ll go in your hole / Take yo soul / Make nut come out yo nose / Fall all on yo clothes.” Gah-day-um! The centerpiece of this carnal filth is the chorus:

“Now that I got you in the bed, I’m gonna pull yo hair

… Pull my hair…

Fuck me, daddy, spank me, daddy

Fuck me, shit!”

And on that nut, I mean note, I’ma leave it there! “Pull My Hair” is… something else!

Appears in 🔻:

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5. Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Crazy Baldhead”

Rastaman Vibration » The Island Def Jam Music Group » 1976

According to Bob Marley & The Wailers, “We gonna chase those crazy baldheads out of towns / Chase those crazy baldheads out of our town.” Ooh wee! “Crazy Baldhead” appears as the sixth track on the iconic musician and collective’s 1976 album, Rastaman Vibes. “Crazy Baldhead” is set in a minor key which is fitting given its protest-driven, socially conscious nature. In the context of a reggae song, it’s idiomatic through and through with the chill, lazy groove, and those guitar chops. Harmonized backing vocals amplify the vibe.

The songwriting on “Crazy Baldhead” is simple but memorable and telling. Marley is socially conscious, about the state of his people and his country, from start to finish. He’s angry regarding what has happened in his native land, singing, “Didn’t my people before me slave for this country? / Now you look me with a scorn / Then you eat up all my corn.” Shameful! Furthermore, he sings, “Built your penitentiary / We build your schools / Brainwash education to make us the fools / Hatred’s your reward for our love / Tellin’ us of your God above.” While Marley aims this at Jamaica, this story is a familiar one, particularly in the United States regarding racism, slavery, etc. A classic from Bob Marley & The Wailers, arguably, “Crazy Baldhead” deserves even more love.