Weekly Crate Digging #1 - 7/29/22

“Never Sleep” - NAV feat. Travis Scott and Lil Baby

Strong 5/10

Travis Scott comes into this track hot with his catchy chorus which transitions smoothly into his verse where his flow develops further. Unfortunately though, the chorus and verses become indistinguishable as they consistently follow a similar cadence and execution. As evident by the song’s title, the theme of each verse is about the mindset of constantly grinding for prosperity. Lil Baby confidently boasts about his illustrious possessions and lavish lifestyle in a set of bars that don’t particularly stand out in accordance with how dynamic his lyricism has become. NAV brings in an uncharacteristic amount of emotion that provides his verse with a level of unprecedented aggression and hunger, as exhibited by lines such as “If a producer don’t take off his tag, I’ll do it myself and I’ll remake the beat.

“Us vs. Them - Quavo & Takeoff feat. Gucci Mane

Soft 5/10

This bass-heavy banger features appearances by this familiar trio that express a defensive approach to the same kind of work ethic that “Never Sleep” takes pride in. Rather than idealizing an independent lifestyle of success, this triplet assures us that not only do they put the work in, but they achieve it by any means necessary. The beat is incredibly heavy but only Quavo seems to attempt to match its intensity, while the others fall short.

“DESPECHÁ” - ROSALÍA

Soft 7/10

“DESPECHÁ” is an incredibly groovy and bouncy piece of Spanish pop. It’s a straightforward careless ode to having fun and not worrying about responsibilities until the night is over.

“New To You” - Calvin Harris feat. Normani, Tinashe and Offset

Strong 7/10

Featuring some beautifully orchestrated strings and a simple drum beat to back it, “New To You” is a bubbly summer bop serving as a soundtrack to experimenting outside of one’s comfort zones. I’m not a huge fan of Normani’s incredibly blunt chorus, but Offset and Tinashe’s verses feel inspired and impassioned through their lines that detail their propensity to forego formalities for a night of excitement.

“Hot Girl (Bodies Bodies Bodies)” - Charli XCX

Solid 3/10

Even though this track’s instrumental is intriguing and menacing, Charli’s vapid lyrics are too prominent to ignore how assertively cringe-worthy they are.