Reading Time: 2 min read

4 out of 5 stars

Russ, Wife You Up © ColumbiaProlific, ‘do-it-all’ rapper and producer Russ has love on his mind on his slick new single, “Wife You Up.”

Russ has had a great year.  He dropped his debut album in May 2017, and it bowed in the top-five of the Billboard 200.  Not only has it performed respectably, the quality was respectable as well.  Russ is a do-it-all artist, and he does it well.  Even after the success with his debut album, he continues to drop new music.  His latest, greatest offering is single, “Wife You Up.”

“Wife You Up” opens with smooth, urban contemporary production, led by electric piano.  The lush sound is indicative of romance – true, committed love.  Russ opts for singing as opposed to dropping tough, biting bars, at least on the first verse.

“Girl we fell in love we both worked at the mall
Way before the rollie
You was just my homie
You were tryna love way before I had it all...
Looking back ashamed we were only a phase.”

On the second verse, he loses some of the ‘pitch’ in favor of bars. Even so, love is still the sentiment he opts to convey.

“I’m turning down the rest for you
If they call us foul I’m fighting all the refs for you
I make you a better you...”

The chorus, which appears at the top of “Wife You Up,” is crème de la crème.  Simply put, it’s the ‘cherry on top.’

“Baby you’re a one of one to me
I know that I should probably wife you up
And baby I swear I’m done with these
Other women they don’t mean shit to me.”

Final Thoughts 

Once again, Russ strikes gold with “Wife You Up.” Lushly produced, beautifully sung and rapped, and all in all, winning.  This isn’t the ‘song of the year,’ but Russ continues to grind hard.

4 out of 5 stars


Russ • Wife You Up – Single • Columbia • Release: 9.22.17
Photo Credit: Columbia

 


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.