Tracks of the week Reviewed: Jorja Smith, Leon Bridges, Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne

Jorja Smith - Burn

“Burn“ features on Jorja Smith’s latest EP “Be Right Back”. Jorja Smith said the following on the project “It’s called be right back because it’s just something I want my fans to have right now, this isn’t an album and these songs wouldn’t have made it. If I needed to make these songs, then someone needs to hear them too.” The project is a succinct collection of 8 tracks featuring a combination of Jorja Smiths signature cadence and an astute range of mid tempered instrumentation.

“Burn” sees Jorja Smith discuss the physical exhaustion attributed to the mixture of autonomy and dream chasing. Jorja details this protagonists story throughout the track and then offers a collection of both her insights and advice within the song’s chorus “You burn like you never burn out / You try so hard, you can still fall down / You keep it all in, but you don't let it out / You try so hard, don't you know you've burnt out? / Let it go in, over my lungs / The fire's always there, no one needs to get hurt / You let yourself burn, you burn yourself out / There she goes, she is fallin' down” (Voice)

The track's backdrop is doused in nostalgia and beautifully layers a double bass and acoustic guitar amidst wooden percussion and a shaker to harness this feeling.

Leon Bridges - Motorbike

“Motorbike” represents Leon Bridges’ latest single and it will appear on Bridges’ new album “Gold-Diggers Sound” out July 23rd via Columbia Records. The music video for this track was directed by Anderson .Paak.

Leon Bridges said the following about the track “The inception of the song started with this afrobeat-type instrumental that my homeboy Nate Mercereau made,” Bridges said of the “Motorbike.” “Prior to the session, I was in Puerto Rico for my 30th with some of my best friends, and the energy of that trip totally inspired this song. ‘Motorbike’ is about living in the moment and escaping with someone. It’s the personification of that unspoken chemistry you have with that person. A special thank you to my man Anderson .Paak for the stunning visuals.” (Rolling Stone)

The essence of spontaneity reverberates around much of the lyricicm as like the running theme of impromptu travel the open road depicts the depths of opportunity able to be found within unchartered territory. The track's backdrop embraces this element of soothing adventure as a gentle melody made up of atmospheric synths , spacy chord progressions and a measured drum loop can be seen to place one in a reminiscent emotive space.

Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne - Seeing Green

“Seeing Green” is the opening track of Nicki Minaj’s re-released 2009 mixtape “Beam Me Up Scotty”, the song also sees Nicki Minaj reunite with Young Money members Drake and Lil Wayne in a track that transcends time and allows listeners to remember a grittier and up and coming Nicki Minaj. In a letter to her fans, Nicki wrote “It’s so important to go back to basics for me. This world of smoke and mirrors can blind you. Be careful. Always important to step back & just really observe.” (Vulture)

The track itself is a triumphant display of Nicki , Drake and Lil Wayne’s extravagant lifestyles and substantial wealth, as both confidence and opulence ooze out of the verses delivered by each respective individual. The 2006 R&B song “In My Mind” by Heather Headley finely coats the track's instrumentation and does nothing but accentuate these ideas.