Songs

No Malice – “So Woke”

blame it on JES7 June 24, 2017

While browsing Netflix at the tail-end of a fairly shitty Monday — and following a rough season three finale of Better Call Saul — I decided to binge-watch a few music-related documentaries, including What Happened, Miss Simone? and Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker (seriously, go check those out).

Just as I was dozing off, I managed to stumble upon No Malice‘s The End of Malice film, a gripping visual narrative of Gene Thornton’s life as a young, buzzing emcee (then known as the other half of the Clipse) and his transformation from Malice to No Malice through the power of religion and God.

To say I was immediately enthralled, re-awoken and filled with fond memories of bumping Lord Willin’ while living in Virginia Beach is an understatement. Knowing that we may never receive a full-blown Clipse reunion, at least not in the context of Lord Willin’ or Hell Hath No Fury is a bit disheartening, but after watching the documentary, I can now understand No Malice’s angle.

Later this year, No Malice will deliver his next solo album, Let The Dead Bury The Dead. Led by the single “Fake News,” the Virginia rapper is back with yet another offering: “So Woke.”

Over ominous production courtesy of Lee Major and Ray Baker, the Thornton brother references everything from not clinging on to your possessions “Not even elevators are we able to escape / You can’t take it witcha, not even your estate,” violence against unarmed Black men by police “Thanks to Tamir (Rice), I know what you pigs think of me” and “All lives matter, try telling that to Philando,” and political news “Trump or Rodham, either way it’s Sodom / Resist or comply, either way they shot ’em.”

Listen below and keep it locked for more from No Malice.