Spoon-feeding a story can often hurt the longevity of a song, just as a dull moment can decrease its replay value. For a great song to last, there needs to be a sense of meaning deeper than just the words on the paper, and there needs to exist some sort of character arc that leaves listeners searching for more. In the case of Uno Hype and his latest release — the impeccable “Untitled” — we’ve got both.
Left without a title, Hype’s newest release finds its importance in the form of an onion-like approach to songwriting. On the first half of the track, he speaks of ambitions and fears in his current environment, leaving a trail of frenzied energy and almost paranoid, blood-rushing lines over the hard-nosed production. On the second half of the song, however, Hype extends the meaning of the first by playing on its Boyz n the Hood-referencing line, “pray they don’t do me like they did Ricky.” Creating a profound sense of contrast, he boils a concoction of soulful, introspective production with heart-wrenching lyrics, painting the duality of Hype’s life in the process.
Only deepening the meaning here, the release also relies on several striking images as its fuel — namely the entended metaphor of basketball, shots of Hype’s family and closest friends, and most importantly, the several close-up shots of his face, fit with a puzzled sense of emotion that leaves listeners searching for more within the strokes of each lyric.
All of these elements and so much more make “Untitled” an intriguing release, destined to last. As it pertains to the climate of America, Hype’s stories of struggle, hope, and the drive to make it to tomorrow leave listeners with more than enough to digest, so I’d encourage all of our readers out there to do just that. Celebrate what looks and feels like art that will withstand the test of time by checking out Uno Hype’s latest below!
Produced by Hollywood JB, Christo, Childish Major, kojo a. & Bigg Kid