We Can Be The Jam

Isaiah Rashad “Nelly”

Isaiah Rashad’s voice has some of the same grain and accent as Lil Wayne’s, but whereas Wayne often has this sort of manic energy, Rashad has this odd drag to it. He sounds tired and weary, and that’s amplified by the minor-key organ part that’s mixed so far into the background of this track that it’s like a musical rack focus with Rashad’s voice in the foreground and the keyboard notes as a blurry backdrop. “Nelly” has a strong chorus, and I like the way it implies a slight boost in energy while the sound of the music and Rashad’s voice are still rather sedate. The song’s about trying to escape difficult circumstances, and when the chorus kicks in it’s like entertaining an optimistic idea while feeling very skeptical about it.

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