CHINA TORI

When you hear good music you go know. And if you know the amount and kind of effort that go into making good music, you will appreciate one when you hear it.

Mind you, good music is not “good lyrics”. Good music is a product of good timing, harmony, sound, voicing, etc. From the beat, to the structure and to the style, producers and singers can never be too careful when cooking something that will transcend age, time, place and situation.

Recently, I heard people ranting that Cash App is a “yahoo advocacy” song and that’s okay. But then, why judge a song only for its lyrics when there’s so much else to hear and feel? Why thrash a piece of music when we all know it is art and that like every other art, it is subject to individual interpretations. The noma order of tins be say different pipo go listen and dem go hear different tins, and based on things happening around them, they will draw conclusions.

Anyways, if you didn’t know, I will tell you for free. Lyrics is just a small part of music. Important, but still small, and it is for this reason that people like me will forgive and maybe overlook it when critiquing songs like Cash App.

I reckon, however, that we have had musicians who chose to inspire with their words and some others who instagated with theirs. There are some, on the other hand, who have given themselves to producing sounds that can heal, revive or breakdown. Bottom line is that whatever the deal is for them, that’s where their focus will be. And for the consumers nko? No matter the intent of the maker, everything changes when a song meets its listeners, as it is interpreted based on the heart and soul needs of individuals.

Below are a few things I have noted about the party banger and if you are not too baised, you will agree to some.

Intro

The intro is very short, powerful and energetic. There’s also something about the way the stanzas glide in and out of the chorus; very smooth.

Lyrics

The lyrics of Cash App bear the quality of the best poems in the world. Ssshh… Let me explain.

There’s something called poetic license and what this means is that you owe nobody explanation for your manner of expression. Distort syntax and play with diction if you must, just so you can achieve the artistic quality that you desire.

So what has renowned poets done with that? With less words they have been able to say so much. Synonyms, antonyms and even homonyms for places where phrases and long sentences could have been. Yeah, that’s what’s up.

In times past, these poets (and musicians) have created short pieces packed with meaning and wisdom and Bella Shmurda and the boys employed that in Cash App. We have phrases and words that are so open and elastic, you can stretch them to mean anything and your different meanings would be valid.

Beats

I no sure say my explanation go fit do this part justice but I go try. The beats in the song is a bit of party and some major lullaby; or is it the other way round? One thing I know, however, is that you fit use the gbedu apologize. Weda na your seventy-six years old mama o, or na your twenty-six years old bobo, just stylishly play Cash App when you don fuck up and see the miracle wey go sele. In seconds, they go forget you, nod follow the song go. Say you are sorry later and they won’t even remember what you did. Talk about some feel-good combo.

For the lullaby, on the other hand, just lie on your back, put Cash App on repeat, reduce the volume and close your eyes… Bruh, you go sleep and strut into dreamland with that feel-good attitude wey I been don tell una about. If you doubt me, try am.

On semantics

If to say I get time, I for do line by line interpretation but let’s just cut the long story short. From wetin I listen to, the song na advice say nothing dey this life; nothing worth the overthinking and the suicides. Just live everyday as it comes. From the fountain of hope that is in all of us, constantly draw. Wake up everyday with the will to try again where you failed the day before and some day, all your efforts will add up and you will break through.

As the energy dey, use am do sontin for yourself and for the people you call your own. But under no condition should you kee yourself put. If one hustle no work, try your hands at something else, spend wisely and don’t be afraid to get take the small jobs.

Bella says take the small jobs and build relationships because someone is somewhere taking notes and adding all those efforts up. If you are consistent, you will see results. Besides, pesin wey no fit pay you today fit recommend you to the pesin wey go pay you well tomorrow. Na the way be that.

Some bragging?

Wait, what’s that thing about, “eyes on my neck, eyes on my wrist”? Bragging? Maybe. The nigga dey draw una attention to his bling-blings and all of una dey busy dey shout “showoff!” No na, let us all be calming down. Him no sidon blings waka con meet am na. I believe say in the lines that follow, he explains how he worked tirelessly for them. Go listen again.

The bridge

The bridge is where the major groove is. Notice how the song gradually increases until it reaches a climax and then drops almost immediately? Very dramatic. I believe say them put am there to give you small time to rest before you continue the gbedu.

Adlibs

Please take your mind back to how I compared music to a pot of soup earlier. To come out with sontin wey pipo go fit chop, one will have to masterfully add ingredients at timed and measured intervals. You no go say because you dey in a hurry, skip one ingredient and expect a good outcome. Every ingredient get hin own usefulness and no matter how small or insignificant they may look, if dem no dey, soup no go sweet. E go don o, but na only you go chop am.

Now, with that said go back and listen for that hype man in background. On a norms, hin voice fit give pesin migraine, but notice how in this piece, it blends and gives the song a kind of richness. His part, I dare say, did so much to give the entire piece the gyration it has.

Lastly…

I think the strongest thing about Bella Shmurda’s Cash App is what the producer did with the end. You know how a song is supposed to end but it doesn’t end. No lyrics, just beats? That’s it!

No mind me, as a small pikin in the 90s, that’s the kind of music we had then. There was always that last part to look forward to. You just stop singing along and enjoy the beats. And for people like wey like bottom pot, that last part naim be the koko. You fit even close your eyes and allow the gbedu carry you go. You can’t imagine my surprise when I absent-mindedly heard Cash App the other day and what the producer did at the end registered. More like he said, “Oya, take extra groove. Just take it”.

On the overall, Cash App is a good piece, quote me anywhere. The producer is one to be reckoned with. So anywhere una see am, make una bill am.