Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
In “I Feel,” the brand new single and music video from the one and only DMF Musa, surprisingly soulful melodies straight out of the OG hip-hop songbook are skewed with a streamlined, almost cosmopolitan groove that is unstoppable once it gets fired up, and though the combination might seem strange on paper, it’s hardly inaccessible to hip-hop enthusiasts of all ages. DMF Musa has been riding the gravy train since the release of “Thrill,” and “I Feel” and seeks to extend his success by exhibiting some of the rapper’s more lush lyrical talents while retaining the signature tonality that he’s built his brand on. I’ve been following this artist’s ascent for some time now and was thrilled at the opportunity to cover this latest cut from his most striking trip to the recording studio released thus far.
Let’s start by breaking down the music video for “I Feel.” We start with something relatively simple but slowly we witness the shots take on a much grander quality, perhaps mirroring the ascent this player has been experiencing from the underground in this past year. The visuals are chic and classy, but they don’t overshadow the magic of the music for a second. I don’t think our leading man was trying to do anything too crazy with the concept in this piece, but at the same time, I like that he chose a director that could capture the decadence of his personality as well as the composition without losing our focus on a lot of external props.
This single sports a catchy beat, but I don’t know that I would call it hooky in comparison to what the majority of pop and hip-hop songs that have made their way up the charts in the last couple of months have contained. I get the idea that while DMF Musa wishes for us to get swaying to the groove here, he wants us to be a little more tuned into what he’s saying from behind the microphone, both in his words and the bass, drum, and sample parts that texturize them. This isn’t about making a song that the NBA on TNT can play before throwing to a commercial; “I Feel” is an organic, natural expression merged with infectious melodies that deserve more attention than a cursory listen will afford.
DMF Musa delivers some smart hip-hop music in this single for hardcore and casual fans alike, and though the year is still young, I think that come December, critics and listeners are still going to be talking about “I Feel.” It has that much-discussed “it” factor that you just don’t find all that much in any scene or style of music, let alone one so densely populated as American hip-hop is. The future has never looked brighter for DMF Musa and his contemporaries, who right now is sitting on top of the world and forging a path to the peak of the charts without ever having to draw from the same well as their rivals. This is a good vibe to invite a lot of new listeners to his sound while still verifying his status as a consistent player to his longtime listeners.
David Lee Marshall
