Reading Time: 2 min read

3 out of 5 stars

Liam Payne, "Stack it Up" [Photo Credit: Capitol]Liam Payne enlists A Boogie Wit da Hoodie for an enjoyable, drippy pop single, โ€œStack It Up.โ€ Itโ€™s pleasant, but no game changer for the British heartthrob.

Ah, itโ€™s been a while since we heard from Liam Payne.  In 2018, he released his debut EP, First Time, along with a couple of other singles, but didnโ€™t make much noise.  Up until the release of โ€œStack It Upโ€ in 2019, the hunky One Direction member has kept a low profile.  With โ€œStack it Up,โ€ he enlists popular rapper A Boogie Wit da Hoodie for the assist.

With โ€œStack it Up,โ€ the โ€˜formulaโ€™ is in play.  Urban-pop singer serves up respectable vocals โ€“ CHECK. Said urban-pop singer drops some gimmicky lyrics โ€“ also CHECK.  Throughout the course of the record, Liam Payne spells out certain, such as โ€œD-I-E,โ€ as well as exhibiting โ€˜swaggerโ€™ with some acronyms and abbreviations, such as โ€œVIPโ€ and โ€œID.โ€  Furthermore, the chorus adds some repetition, specifically on the pronoun, โ€œI.โ€ Apparently, one โ€œIโ€ is not enough.  As far as the subject matter, itโ€™s basic โ€“ which could arguably be a check for pop song as well.  Honestly, the title is loud and clear about the drippy nature of this cut.  But if not, the chorus has you covered.  At least Payne emphasizes the importance of putting in work though:

โ€œSo, if you wanna stack it up, you gotta work for it
I-I-I-I-I-I
Ainโ€™t nobody gonna be doinโ€™ it for ya
I-I-I-I-I
I got dreams and I got time
But that ainโ€™t enough to get me by
So I stack it up, man, I gotta work for it
Yeah, I got money on my mind
I-I, I-I
I got money on my mind
I-I, I-I.โ€

The other check? Payne invites a trending rapper along for a cameo.  A Boogie Wit da Hoodie offers a blend of un-pitched and pitched rhymes and is solely responsible for the parental advisory label bestowed upon the single (โ€œYeah, I know SHIT donโ€™t come free, you gotta work for itโ€).  And, for good measure, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie says โ€˜shitโ€™ more than once โ€“ my, my, my!


Final Thoughts 

Ultimately, โ€œStack it Upโ€ is okay, but nothing brand new or transcendent from Liam Payne.  Is he still a heartthrob? Yes.  Can he sing? Yes.  Is he a really exciting pop artist who has a career that transcends his One Direction days? Doubtful, but never say never.  โ€œStack it Upโ€ is short and pleasant enough, but no game changer.

3 out of 5 stars


Liam Payne โ€ข Stack It Up (Ft. A Boogie Wit da Hoodie) [Single] โ€ข Capitol โ€ข Release: 9.18.19
Photo Credit: Capitol

 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.