Hip-Hop fans have been eagerly awaiting new material from Dessa ever since last year’s mixtape stealing song “Congratulations” from the acclaimed Hamilton mixtape, and now they finally have it as the rapper has released a new track: the rolling “Good Grief.” The song is based on a series of popping drum loops, gurgling synths and the impeccable vocal stylings of Dessa, who mixes gentle and melodic vocal lines with tight, controlled rapping.
Equal parts rap song and pop song, “Good Grief” is lyrically concerned with the perspective gained from pain and loss, with a couple of lines from the middle of the song laying this concept out in clarity: “I want that good grief / The one that heals me / That leaves me clarified by fire when I’m burned clean.” This continues Dessa’s penchant for combining evocative and thought-provoking lyrics with layered production values to create one of the year’s most sonically exciting tracks.
The release of “Good Grief” would seem to indicate that Dessa is preparing to release a brand new collection of new material in 2018, as she has not issued a full-length album since 2014’s excellent Parts of Speech.
You can listen to “Good Grief” in the player below.
Photo credit Marisa Rose Ficara
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