Plan | 5ive Songs

1. Travis Scott, “The Plan”

“The Plan” • Warner Bros. Entertainment • 2020

Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott shines on “The Plan”, which appears on the 2020 Christopher Nolan film (and soundtrack), Tenet. Production work by WondaGurl and Ludwig Göransson help to construct this genius bop! “The Plan” features an enigmatic intro. It’s intense, rhythmic, and unsettling, set in a minor key.  Post tone-setting intro, the listener is even further off-put, with those wild, pitched vocals by Scott.  Without listening closely, or cheating by checking out the lyrics, initially, he sounds unintelligible. Of course, said lyrics are actually the chorus: “You don’t know where we stand / It’s true / Know the plan.” After things settle in, the magic of “The Plan” is, revealed in all its glory. Scott starts dropping some bars that are easy to discern and certainly entertaining.

Not deep, there are definitely noteworthy moments:

“Close the opera
Hear the red and blue outside, I think our option’s up
I recrossed it ‘round the map, I had to line it up...”

2. Ro James, “Plan B”

Ft. Brandy

MANTIC • RCA • 2020

If one merely examines the track list of MANTIC, the sophomore album by Ro James, two collaborations in particular catch one’s eye – one being “Too Much” featuring Miguel, and the other being “Plan B,” featuring Brandy.  “Plan B” runs just over three minutes, and features some of the most distinct production of the album (DJ Camper).  The tempo is slow – lethargic – continuing to tout the hyper romantic, hypersexual vibes of the album.  Where some of the records on MANTIC place more weight on the lyrics and song itself, “Plan B” seems to place more emphasis on the ambience and vibe itself.  The record sort of floats, which is a cool effect.

3. Hozier, “No Plan”

Wasteland, Baby! • Rubyworks / Columbia • 2019

“There’s no plan, there’s no race to be run / The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun / There’s no plan, there’s no kingdom to come / I’ll be your man if you got love to get done…” “No Plan,” a five-and-a-half-minute record, continues the excellence of Wasteland, Baby!, the sophomore album by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, Hozier.   Throwback production work is a major selling point, with a soulful drum groove, robust bass line, rhythmic guitar, and piano. The vocals and songwriting also shine, particularly the chorus (excerpted above).

4. G-Eazy, “The Plan”

The Beautiful & Damned • RCA • 2017

“Liquor and women, two things I don’t chase.” Yep, those lyrics exemplify G-Eazy – he’s cocky, confident, and hard-nosed. “The Plan” appears on the rapper’s third studio album, The Beautiful & Damned, released in 2017. Honestly, at times, it’s hard not to smirk, or crack a smile.  Prime examples where smirking is warranted: “Popeye just opened the can” or “Tell me, why is your girlfriend my number one fan.” What a plan, Gerald, what a plan!

5. Drake, “God’s Plan”

Scorpion • Young Money / Cash Money • 2018

“God’s plan, God’s plan / I can’t do this on my own… / Someone watchin’ this shit close, yep, close…/ Might go down as G.O.D., yeah, wait / I go hard on Southside G / I make sure that north-side eat.” On the melodic “God’s Plan” (Scorpion, 2018), a number one hit single by Drake, the rapper-singer seems to acknowledge God himself (“I can’t do this on my own”). Even so, he still references his share secular ideas. “God’s Plan” was one of the biggest hits of 2018, particularly the accompanying music video that finds Drake giving back.