Most famously known for his multiplatinum single “Caroline”, Aminé is a rapper from Portland, with a notable multiplicity of creativity. From creative direction in his visuals to the different colors that one heard on “Good For You”. Aminé is a rapper definitely carving his own lane and unafraid to come into his own.
The album consists of 15 tracks with features from Ty Dolla $ign, Nelly, Offset, Charlie Wilson and Kehlani.
The most notable realization off the album, was how eclectic the tracks were. One journeyed with Aminé as he was reflective, “woke”, political, funny, comical, frustrated, vulnerable and honestly, simply put; human.
He references banana bread and his (widely known) undying love for the color yellow. But also, gets personal and lets us understand banana boy a little better.
In order of their appearance on the track-list; here are FIVE songs off Aminé’s “Good for You” that your ears should experience:
- VEGGIES ft. Ty Dolla $ign
This is the first song off the album. Aminé showcases his singing abilities and is rather vulnerable right off the bat. I found that vulnerability showcase throughout the ENTIRE album, important.
He’s known for being funny, but it’s great to see that in addition to being hilarious, he can also dig deep and keep it real. Ty Dolla $ign was also a great addition to the song. His verse tastefully complemented the track. The song ends abruptly. Considering it’s the first track, that was probably well played, because as soon as it ended, it left me impatiently wanting and waiting for the next one.
- STFU
6th track. There was autotune. Unexpected, but made for a gripping sound. The autotune isn’t all over the song as Aminé comes through with some serious no-autotune flow.
He reflects on heartbreak, school dances and comes through on the last verse with this line:
“friends need a uber, sis need tuition, fans want the music but they want a politician, pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure”
He says pressure 5 times. This line majorly stuck out. Aminé is a rapper who doesn’t normally address politics in his music. However, he did have an applaudable political moment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after performing “Caroline”, he rapped a verse and had some strong statements:
“…I’m black and I’m proud, my skin is brown and I’m loud… You can never make America great again, all you ever did was make this country hate again.”
In STFU, there’s an acknowledgement to the fact that many music fans expect the rapper to be a lyricist who constantly addresses ‘politics’.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone is going to be a Kendrick Lamar or a Jay-Z. Some rappers can and want to be political and others don’t.
Aminé seems to be a rapper who makes the conscious choice of diversifying between the political and the non-political.
- SUNDAY
8th track. A smooth song, with a melodic flow that quite literally got me bumping my head back and forth. Again, there’s a vulnerability and a realness.
“I just went double platinum. Mama say my health is more important than my album.”
This is a song that got me thinking about the title of the album as well.
“Good For You” can be interpreted in many different ways. With this song specifically, it seems like Aminé is trying to figure out what’s good for him and those around him as well as inherently acknowledging the ‘bad’. There’s a lot of awareness.
- MONEY
13th track. This song started and right away the production came through giving this sort of outer-space/existential feel that also comes through with the rap…
“everyday I wake up… looking at my life like this is what it’s made of. Money rule the world around me and now I realize money, make the world go round…”
There’s a special confidence to his voice and delivery. He’s being assertive but it’s just the right amount of assertiveness as it’s balanced with self-awareness. He’s looking at his life, and personally reflecting on a larger scale.
“Success ain’t ‘bout the fame and how much jewels you rock/success is when I can tell my mama to quit her job.”
Aminé makes it clear that his definition of success is not skewed by the glam and the fame. It seems like he’s iterating that above all, he’s an artist who values staying true to himself and his core.
- HEEBEEJEEBIES ft. Kehlani
This is the last track off the album and it was released as a single before the album dropped.
Kehlani’s sultry vocals and Aminé’s melodic bars give me the heebeejeebies whenever I hear it. So with that being said, this song had to go in my top 5 off “Good For You”.
————————————————————
If you’re having a bad day or if you’re having a good day – “Good For You” is an album that will be good for you to listen to regardless.
From Aminé hilariously phrasing things like “white girls love me like my first name coachella” on his 2nd track ‘Yellow’ to more deeper realizations like “money don’t make you happy, it just make you wanna get richer” on his 13th track ‘Money’.
The album is full of verses and bars that will make you think, but also ones that will make you laugh.
Make sure to get Aminé’s debut album “Good For You” to feel some feels and enjoy.