Two Things Can Be True (Written By Malika #4)

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*Welcome to Industry Me Presents: Written By Malika, my monthly music column. I am Malika, your favourite industry insider, ex-Artist, Songwriter, and now, Music Journalist. Here, on the first Thursday of every month, we discuss music trends and the latest releases.

And whilst this won’t be a gossip column with all the salacious details of the industry, my intention is that this will be a safe space for honest, trustworthy, truthful, unbiased, and constructive thoughts about the music. 

So with all that said, let’s get into it.

A Run Down Of The Month – Here is where I break down what has been happening lately in the land of music. 

This will be the last column from me this year, and I truly don’t know where to start. It feels like every 3/4 days of 2024 there has been some music, media, or culture-related incident that left many of us asking, “Who exactly is writing this season of the basement?* because the episodes are going crazy”. That doesn’t even begin to address the real-life issues affecting us as a people, such as the cost of living crisis, political issues, and the wars happening around the world.

I don’t want to spend too much time dissecting this. However, I have seen a concerning amount of videos of high-profile content creators trying to explain the connection between the legal drama happening around Drake, Kendrick, and their respective label Universal Music Group, with a lack of understanding of how the music business works. Since I have over 15 years of working in the music industry, I think it’s important to take a moment to attempt to shed some light on what this all could mean from a music business perspective. 

Since March, the basement* has been in a Drake vs Kendrick debate.  With the general consensus, “For anyone out here that’s calling it right,”, that Kendrick won.

 (Drake stans would beg to differ however and I’m truly not here to argue) 

Then in November lawyers for a company registered to Drake called ‘Frozen Moments LLC’ submitted two pre-action petitions for UMG to preserve evidence (stay with me).

This simply means, on behalf of this company, the lawyers are asking Universal Music Group to give them any evidence they have in relation to Kendrick’s release ‘Not Like Us’. 

This includes streaming data, contracts, and correspondence sent or received by UMG, in relation to this song. 

It is very important to point out that at this stage no one is being sued or has sued anyone.

As this is a developing story, and I am only a lawyer in my head, not in real life, it’s hard to comment on how things are going to play out. However, if I were to guess from a music business perspective, (my editor would want me to put allegedly here, so there it is) it seems like something has happened behind the scenes between Drake and the head of his label, and allegedly, Drake wants out of his contract by any means necessary. I think this is a totally reasonable request. 

Timing is everything. I think it just so happened that at the same time the alleged internal issues were happening, Kendrick took aim at Drake in the ‘Like That’ record. And whilst I don’t believe the two are connected, I do believe both things can be true.

UMG could allegedly have been paying for comments and plays, using streaming farms, and making deals with the DSPs and radio to ensure that ‘Not Like Us’ is seen and heard everywhere. If this is the case, Drake has every right to be upset, stand up, speak out, and take action that his music is intentionally being allegedly suppressed. Actually, if he is successful, it may help the rest of us. It may force the record business to behave more ethically and have better business practices. Wouldn’t that be nice? *passive-aggressive tone*.

It is important to point out, however, whether Drake knows it or not, the same tactics he is accusing UMG of using to hype up Kendrick’s music, are the same tactics record labels have used to make *insert your favorite artist’s name* a superstar. 

As I say both things can be true.

The biggest issue of all of this is none of these things seemed to be so unethical when they were allegedly benefiting Drake. He was breaking records and having no.1’s and winning all the rap battles over the past 15 years. Then, he wasn’t bullying his peers, he was just ‘out rapping them’ because of how talented he was, and he is. 

Again I’m only a lawyer in my head. But if he was my client I would advise him he might not want to dig too deep in UMG’s filing cabinet in a bid to expose Kendrick’s alleged numbers. After all, he might f**k around and reveal some truths about how he allegedly achieved his own numbers and accolades that he might not want to be exposed to the public. If there’s one thing we all know, them tables do turn, and karma never loses an address.

We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out for now. 

* The basement is a term used by my friends and I to describe the world of social media.

Music Review: Here is where I’ll deep dive into the latest singles/albums/videos grabbing my attention

There has been so much good music coming out lately, that I thought it would be nice to wrap things up by shedding a light on a mix of albums, EPs, and singles that have been moving the musical needle for me these past 30 days. 

Kendrick Lamar – GNX (My faves: tv off, wacced out murals, heart pt. 6, gnx)

If you have read some of my previous columns, you might think I’m a die-hard Kendrick fan. Believe it or not, prior to this year I had never listened to a Kendrick album in my life. I had tried once before but I wasn’t able to get into it for a mix of reasons. 

I’ll also be honest and say, that after his battle with Drake, especially knowing I had never heard a full Kendrick project, I was nervous. I’m invested now and I wanted it to be just as great but based on what I have heard this year, based on who Lamar is at this moment in time, (and who he is in this season of life is important) ‘GNX‘ is a really good body of work. 

It might not be his best body of work, and I will go back to those previous projects before making a complete judgement on who I think Kendrick is as an artist. But, it definitely serves its purpose for where his career is at now. 

I’m not too much of a fan of all the voice changes and noises he makes. HOWEVER, I LOVE when he screams “Mustuuuuuuuuuuuurd” on tv off, just as much as I hate the other things. Therefore, I understand you can’t have one without the other. The same goes with ‘squabble up‘. I loved it when I heard the snippet on the ‘Not Like Us’ video. The beat, much like many of the beats on this project, is INSANE. But, I was disappointed by the overall song. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and it has grown on me, but I don’t love it the way I thought I would based off the snippets. (There’s a lesson in there for record companies and A&R’s signing songs off of TikTok snippets.) I digress.

This year, he truly has grown and created new fans, while maintaining his core fanbase, ethos of the West Coast community, culture, and black power and culture, seemingly without losing his artist and personal integrity. I find this remarkable and extremely interesting to watch from a music business, marketing, and promotion standpoint. Especially for the music geeks like me. 

 Check Kendrick Lamar out here: Instagram and X.

FLO – AAA (My Faves: In My Bag, Check, IWH2BMX, Caught Up)

When these girls first came on the scene in 2022, Little Mix had just parted ways. Mainstream corporations and society were finally starting to accept and acknowledge racial bias’ still existed. Many, including major record labels, were suddenly finding a new appreciation for cultural inclusion. Then with a poof, FLO appeared like a gift from the music Gods. They are vocally on point and have a strong identifiable look that feels relatable and sassy without being too try hard. 

They won the BRITS ‘Rising Star’ Award in 2023 and were consistently releasing music, whether that be singles or EPs. 

Then on the 15th of November, AAA, their first album was released. A beautiful body of work, I am not sure if it was entirely the girl’s vision or in collaboration with the team they have around them. Everyone seems to understand the assignment and their part, moving in unison to get this done, and done correctly. In terms of what direction this album is, it’s an incredibly strong body of work, especially for a debut. It felt like an ode to everything early 2000’s R’n’B, in a tasteful modern fun way. 

Check FLO out here: Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Ella Mai – 3 

On the 3rd of November, Ella Mai made a return to music after taking what seemed like a brief hiatus. She dropped a 3 pack EP produced by her mentor and label owner DJ Mustard. Upon first listen, Varren Wade’s pen was noticeably missing on the opener, on what seems to be the lead track, ’Hearts On Deck’. I did enjoy the second and third songs a little more, but only marginally. 

My thoughts on this project are simple. ‘Hearts On Deck’ feels like they (& they could be Ella Mai, or the label I don’t know, but someone) were trying to recreate ‘Boo’d Up’.

Now this isn’t uncommon in the music industry, and that’s why I wouldn’t hold Ella fully accountable. The chorus didn’t feel like a chorus; the reprise sounded uninspired, even down to the melody used. Overall, it feels like they were trying to catch one. And although no one asked me my opinion, I’m still going to give it. I would have started the project with the second song.

The rollout for this project was strange too.

Respectfully, for many reasons, I don’t think Ella Mai’s career is at a point right now where she can drop a surprise project and we all stop and rush to it. Her second album, which I really liked, came and sort of went. With this project, I genuinely only knew she had released new music because The Shade Room posted a pic of her with a side-by-side picture of her partner as the artwork showing matching tattoos. I thought oh that picture looks intriguing let me check her page. They weren’t even highlighting the project.

Having been an artist for the majority of my career I understand that we can be sensitive about our s**t, so I want to be constructive. I totally understand and appreciate what things look like from the outside isn’t always a true reflection of what’s happening within the camp from a music business perspective. This isn’t a dig at Ella Mai, but as a consumer, I am confused. I would have loved for there to have been more promotion around this release, not least because Mai seems to have a fanbase who miss her.

Check Ella Mai out here: Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Chip – Grime Scene Saviours (FT. D Double E, Frisco, Flirta D, Skepta, Bruza, JME, Flowdan, Jamakabi, Novelist, and Jendor)

‘Grime Scene Saviours’ is the latest release from Chip, bringing together grime legends D Double E, Frisco, Flirta D, Skepta, Bruza, JME, Flowdan, Jamakabi, Novelist, and Jendor. On production is my dear friend Dexplicit, who is also the producer behind the original grime anthem ‘Pow’.

Often in underground club and rave culture, we British people will invent a sound, and develop a cult-like fanbase. We will then carry the songs and the culture on our backs until the end of time and beyond. We’ve seen it with ‘21 Seconds‘ by So Solid, ‘Firestarter’ by The Prodigy, ‘Go‘, ‘African Warrior‘, ‘Migraine Skank‘, and ‘Do You Mind‘ by my alumni from the funky house scene. ‘Grime Scene Survivors‘ is another example of that comradery and ownership of a sound. 

Chip is an incredible lyricist and always has been. Over the years he has been one of my favourite MCs because he speaks to the songwriter in me. The respect he has always received from his peers in the rap and Grime scene, especially as there was a time he was one of their youngers, is a testament to his talent, penmanship, and his love of the genre. So much so this is what has enabled him to pull this star-studded team of legends together for this absolute smash of a song.

Check Chip out here: Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Tori Kelly (FT. JoJo) – bottomline (Written By JoJo, Tori Kelly, Jon Bellion, Jordan and Stefan Johnson. Produced by The Monsters & Strangerz, Bellion, and Kelly.)

Tori Kelly and JoJo’s importance to R’n’B is very similar in terms of their brand but from different eras. I will never forget watching ‘Leave (Get Out)‘ as a young girl and being mesmerised by JoJo’s vocal ability at such a young age. The same goes with Tori Kelly. I didn’t find her through American Idol, where she was a contestant. Instead, I discovered her song ‘Dear No One’ and I was in. Their careers have always puzzled me. They have a cult following (I would know, I’m part of the fan club, )and their vocal ability, longevity, and respect for their talent in the R’n’B scene is solidified. And yet, something seems to be missing for both.

They recently teamed up for ‘bottomline’, an R’n’B/pop track with beautiful harmonies and vocal runs. I love the ‘I want you to be mine all the time,’ reprise. It makes it fun and seems to follow the movement and bounciness that can be heard in the beat. This is an easy-listening type of song with substance, which I feel like both these ladies do really well. 

Check Tori Kelly out here: Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Check JoJo out here: Instagram and TikTok.

Tiana Major9 – alone (Written by Kenneth Paryo, Prince Charlez, Slice, and Sir Charles. Produced by Sir Charles, Paryo, Slice, and PRGRSHN.)

Tiana’s vocal performance on this song is STUNNING! It’s probably my favourite vocal performance by this singer. Whatever the person she’s singing this to did, I believe her.

The music on this song is co-produced by PRGRSHN, who is an incredible producer in his own right. The sound feels delicate and vulnerable, and lends to throwback Motown without feeling dated. This is true even in how her vocals have been produced. Truly, this is a beautiful, beautiful song. 

Check Tiana Major9 out here: Instagram, X, and TikTok.

On Repeat – Here is where I’ll highlight a song that I personally have had on repeat:

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Find Yourself

Ok, so there is this cafe I go to in my area to work sometimes. I sit with my headphones on, sometimes listening to music; sometimes in silence (it helps me concentrate). The last time I was there this song came on. Through my headphones, I heard the lyric, ‘And I hope you find yourself / Before I find somebody else to be my lover.’, and I lost my mind. This track has been on repeat ever since. Everything works, from vocals to the electric guitar solos, which I use as an opportunity to sing at the top of my lungs like it’s my own song. Big up to whoever was on playlist duties that day. To conclude, this is 6 minutes and 16 seconds of country-soul perfection. 

Check Lukas out here: Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Songwriter/Producer Highlight – Here is where I’ll be highlighting Producers and/or Songwriters: 

Fred Cox is a music producer who has worked with some of your faves. Rag’n’Bone Man, Paloma Faith, Samm Henshaw, Pip Millett, and Shaé Universe are just a few of those he has worked alongside. As a multi-instrumentalist, Fred’s talent allows him to cross genres and explore different sounds. This was shown again in September when he began releasing music as one half of the music duo BUTCH PIXY whose sound is more rock/punk based. 

Check Fred out here: Instagram and TikTok.

Artist of the Month 

Lizzie Birchie is a neo-soul singer, who recently received the PRS momentum fund. I know this because this was how I was introduced to her. Her song ‘I Hope’ sounds like something Cleo Sol would sing or create. I know she has been on tour recently and will be performing at Mahalia Presents. This is a live music showcase that spotlights up-and-coming artists, on the 12th of December at The Jazz Cafe. Furthermore, I am hoping to get there to see her as I’d love to catch her live. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing what she does in the new year.

Check Lizzie out here: Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Check me out here:

 @MalikaOfficially // @ThisSoundsWrite

See you next year! Also, you can check out previous columns here.

(Send thoughts, submissions, review suggestions, and comments to: Malika@thissoundssoundswrite.com)

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