Chris Locals 2023
1. “When I R.I.P.” — Labrinth
It’s fair to say that HBO shows are now generally synomous with “great music”. HBO megahits usually have incredible soundtracks — Entourage, Californication, Westworld — iconic musical intros — The Sopranos, True Blood, How To Make It In America — or both, like The White Lotus. But what is far rarer are the shows who create their own original songs, that sound like a perfectly curated assembly of hits to underscore the drama that we see onscreen. When I first heard “When I R.I.P.”, especially with Jules singing along to it in the car, I naturally thought it was an amazing radio hit that I hadn’t heard.
But it wasn’t. Labrinth had written the song for the show. What an incredible moment. A fictional character, singing along to a “fictional” song as if it were a hit, made believable because it’s just as good as any hit currently on the radio. That’s one of many beautiful elements to Euphoria: the blending of music and visuals; of old and new; of fictional and real. Zendaya singing on songs that play overtop of scenes she’s acting in as Rue. Naming their episodes after famous songs — “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy”, “The Next Episode”, “Shook Ones Pt II” — far older than the Gen Z feel of the show itself. Euphoria’s music adds layers to the show in every way, and Labrinth is to thank for that.
2. “The Worst” — Jhené Aiko
Jhené is by many counts achieving legends status already, but she’s on my list because I think she’s still known by less people than she should be. I thank my wife Ceylan for showing me her music, as well as her great appearance on Rhythm & Flow:
She’s smooth, she has a great flow, she’s effortlessly cool. “The Worst” is my favorite of hers because it has a darker melody, paired with simmering lyrics that are delivered icy cold:
“Please don’t take this personal
But you ain’t sh*t
And you weren’t special
’Til I made you so
You better act like you know”
Such a great track, she curates a vibe like no other.
3. “Future Sounds” — Jurassic 5
Again, so many people would consider this blasphemy — putting Jurassic 5 on my “Locals” list. But again, I feel like so many people don’t know how good they are. Truly amazing lyricists, poets, and musicians. And one of the best array of voices since The Temptations in terms of low to high, bass to treble.
Sadly, my all-time favorite song of theirs is greyed out on Spotify for some reason: “Back 4 U”:
J5 have some of the best rhymes out there.
“You try to dis and get your rims crushed like ants eggs
From my fate to where my Tims touch my pants legs”
And they are way underrated. Legends and Locals, in my books!
4. “Across The Room” — Leon Bridges
Shout out to my buddy Dan for showing me this one. Beautiful track — Bridges’ vocals are incredible, and Odesza’s touch gives it a space-age-time-travelling feel. One of my favorites, perfect for a sunny day.
5. “Bury Me In Georgia” — Kane Brown
Yes Kane! Black-ifying country in a big, big way. My sister, who is one of the biggest country fans I know, showed me this track. He’s definitely got songs that are better known — his duet “What Ifs” is also fantastic — but this song is my pick because it is so country. I guess I’m playing into a stereotype by just saying that, but sometimes, falling within one “stereotype” can be a means of shattering others.
For Kane, in my mind, that would be a Black country artist who’s songs like these mean being billed alongside acts like Jason Aldean and Toby Keith, whose audiences could really use more colour in their lives. So much of combatting stereotypes, closemindedness, bias, hate, and fear, is having a bridge to work with. A song like “What Ifs” would be more of a bridge to fans attracted to the Keith Urbans and the Brad Paisleys of country but I’ve been to a lot of those concerts and the fans are more progressive as a whole I would say. But it’s songs like “Bury Me In Georgia” that attract fans who love Toby Keith’s “Whisky Girl”, and Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride”, and — without sounding like I’m generalizing too much — it’s those fans that I’d love to see Kane influence in a positive way.
Music is the perfect vehicle for that. It’s not everything, of course. That amazing scene from Do The Right Thing is an amazing illustration of that disconnect: Mookie points out that as much as Pino says ‘n-word’ this, and n-word’ that, his favourite sports, movie, and rockstars are Magic Johnson, Eddie Murphy, and Prince. But Pino pushes back, even though he knows he’s right. “It’s different… They’re Black, but they’re not really Black.” But still, it is possible. It’s a gateway. Especially for young kids who are country fans, who connect with Kane and grow up with him as a country hero of theirs. Shout out to Kane for continuing to carve a lane, in a genre where it can’t be easy.
6. “Industry Baby” & “That’s What I Want” —Lil Nas X
Speaking of carving his own lane, you’d be hardpressed to find someone who has done that more than Lil Nas X — a Black queer artist who has made waves in both the hiphop and country scenes, historically places that have been much more close-minded than other genres to non-straight artists (hiphop) and non-straight and non-white artists (country). This is another choice that could easily be in the Legends category, but he makes this list because at 23 he has achieved but a fraction of the success that he will in the span of his career, in my opinion. Despite all of the success, he is just getting started.
“Industry Baby” is one of the all-time great hiphop songs, in my opinion — both his parts and Jack Harlow’s are incredible.
Lil Nas X talks about why it was important to include the line “I don’t f*ck b*tches I’m queer” in the above video: “…a lot of people expected me to calm down… especially in a song like this… [but] these lines are my life, like this is actually me. And there’s somebody growing up and hearing that and saying ‘Damn, when I rap I’m going to say sh*t like this too”. And “That’s What I Want” shows what an ear he has for melody, which puts him head and shoulders above so many other rappers. It also speaks to why he recognized “Old Town Road” for what it was: a massive crossover hit for himself. Having incredible bars can earn lasting respect, but having incredible melodies and overall songs earns the legacy, in my opinion; luckily, he has both. Also, speaking of the come-up, my favorite video he’s ever posted. Two videos of him eating pizza, one year apart.
If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is. Sorry for the FB video, couldn’t find it on YouTube. Can’t wait to see where he’s at in a decade.
7. “In The Colours” & “Diamonds On The Inside” — Ben Harper
Another legend, by all accounts, but Ben Harper is in my locals playlist because he’s underrated and not as known as he should be, in my opinion. I remember hearing “In The Colours” back in high school, a recommendation from my buddy Matt who was in one of the bands I was playing in. Such a great song — if you’re on the beach, it’s sunny, and breezy, sit back and relax. Or cooking. Or anything, really.
And “Diamonds On The Inside” my father in law found after we watched the amazing documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown about the famous “Funk Brothers” — Motown’s legendary studio band. The doc is interspersed with a performance with surviving members of that band, playing the hits with modern day singers, and they asked Ben to step in for Marvin Gaye. If that doesn’t say it all — about his talent, his presence, and his reputation as a truly gifted artist, I don’t know what does!
8. “Freedom” & “Do You Feel Me” — Anthony Hamilton
I have Ridley Scott and Quentin Tarantino to thank for this one. Tarantino always picks excellent songs for his soundtracks, and Django Unchained in particular had one amazing song after the other. “Freedom” was my all-time favorite, which was created for the film, and is such a powerful duet with Elayna Boynton.
It was also covered beautifully by The Voice Switzerland contestant Vanessa Iraci, who hits some fantastic notes, especially towards the end from 1:12 onwards.
And then Anthony Hamilton actually performed in the film American Gangster as himself, which was a very cool touch to another film with an incredible soundtrack, and that’s where I heard “Do You Feel Me”, which is just a great slow-jam.
9. “Colors” — Black Pumas
Jim — my BFF and co-Executive Director Marley’s dad — sent this to me. He has great taste, and we’ve exchanged lots of songs over the years, which has been a joy. Mysterious, cool, soulful. One of those songs that isn’t in a dramatic, epic scene from an HBO drama — yet.
10. “Purple Haze” — Joy Oladokun
This blog really should have been called Blackifying Country™ haha. I’m a big fan of Joy — another artist trailblazing through country and pop as a Black queer woman. “Purple Haze” is on the less country side, and it’s a very simple song in many respects, but there’s something about it that had me playing it all the time last summer. Great melodies. Relaxed vibe. And talk about pipes. Rihanna meets Ed Sheeran meets Bieber at his best meets Definitely someone who has just scratched the surface of her career, and what she will achieve. Hope you enjoyed my picks this year, and thank you for tuning into our Locals & Legends 2023 playlists!
