Gangsta by Free Nationals feat. A$AP Rocky and Anderson .Paak | Song Review
The soulful band brings in two collaborators for their latest single.
Free Nationals are a band that most saw as an extension of Anderson .Paak but since dropping their debut album in 2019 they have a built a supportive fanbase of their own. With A-list collaborations, including one with the late great Mac Miller, the band delivers a soulful groovy sound that sounds excellent every time. With them celebrating the 5 year anniversary of their debut album this year, it looks like a rollout for a new album may be beginning. This new single features Anderson .Paak himself and another artist people have been waiting on a new album from — A$AP Rocky.
The new single from Free Nationals titled “Gangsta” is smooth and funky yet jazzy track with some dreamy sounds sprinkled in. Anderson .Paak is on hook duty with his smooth yet raspy vocals lining up well with the atmosphere of the song. Meanwhile, A$AP Rocky brings his quick fire yet intricate flow to the track and of course, offers some flow switches during his word gymnastics. Throughout all these technical feats, he also offers some storytelling and a little introspection too. But, of course, it wouldn’t be a Rocky verse without some flexing.
The Free Nationals bring a wide variety of sounds to the production with each instrument serving a purpose to paint the soundscape for the vocals. There’s even a tag to open and close the track to remind anyone who forgot who they had the pleasure of listening to. There’s a groovy guitar that comes to the forefront that’s accented by stimulating strings. Then, there are some dreamy keys that get paired with percussion that’s steady yet dynamic. The most interesting sound comes from the synthesizer that sounds eerie but still manages to stay in line with the smooth atmosphere of the entire song.
This is a solid track to reintroduce listeners to how the Free Nationals are talented musicians that still pair well with vocalists too. With an album all but announced, it will be interesting to see what other collaborations they put out this time around.
