Considering the amount of collective artistic talent between Rocky and Pharrell, there was no way this collaboration could’ve gone poorly.
On his latest release, Rocky seemed to focus more on songwriting and curating a sound to fit the intended narrative than he did on delivering bars. That’s not to say he fell short in the lyrics department, but he was certainly less animated and not too concerned with squeezing in the dictionary on a sixteen.
ALLA was most definitely a strong, successful record. However, there’s something too enjoyable about Rocky’s more upbeat and energetic flow on this collab track with Pharrell. It’s also important to note the difference in mood on this track. ALLA was a somber record and played as what is almost a memorial for Yams. “Hear Me” is incredibly upbeat, without losing the bass and grit that compliments Rocky’s style so well. It can be attributed to Pharrell, who is still unmatched when it comes to that kind of production. The balance is reminiscent of Pusha T’s “S.N.I.T.CH” in regards to how it maintains melody while dipping off into an esoteric bridge.
Rocky really makes the track his own, coming through with a bravado that suggests he’s feeling better. It would not be a stretch to think that ALLA played it’s cathartic role, and he’s ready to hone his spitting style.
https://soundcloud.com/awge/ar-ph-hear-me-1-26-16
art by your homie, Arthur Banach
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