The internet is a vast place filled with everything you could ever want and more. From catching up on news, online shopping, or even browsing Reddit for videos of silos being destroyed, the internet has allowed its users unlimited access to the world around us. Primarily, I enjoy using the web to browse new, dank music. I find the act of stumbling upon music to be an artform in its own right. Websites like Mixtape Monkey, Pigeons & Planes, DJ Booth, Soundcloud, and Fake Shore Drive are just a few of the myriad of sources I use. Recently, nothing has struck me more than NGHTMRE’s newly-released “No Coming Down (feat. Alex Wiley & Sky Montique).
I’ve been a fan of Wiley’s music ever since I heard his collaboration with Chance the Rapper on “Spaceship Part II”. It has been incredible to watch him progress as an artist. He can seamlessly flow on high-tempo, hard-hitting bangers like “Vibration” and “Japanese” while also experimenting artistically on smoother tracks like “Residual Effects” and “Lay Low.” When scrolling through his discography, it is impossible to miss the variety of flows he can perform. My favorite verse by him is on the Mick Jenkins and Chance the Rapper-assisted “Grown Ass Kid.”
On “No Coming Down”, Wiley does not disappoint flow-wise. In the first verse, he expertly rides NGHTMRE’s futuristic pulses. When the drums drop out, Wiley’s half-sung, half-rapped style is at its peak. NGHTRME’s production on “No Coming Down” is rather beautiful. Instead of staying close to some of his harder, trap-based roots, NGHTMRE drops a smooth, simpler beat with an electronic influence. In addition to crafting some of the more standard electronic-based drums, the final four bars leading up to each verse institute a rolling snare drum. The snare serves as a perfect build-up to the chorus, which is expertly sung by Sky Montique. Montique’s vocals on this chorus are sublime. She repeats the chorus twice; the first time conservatively, while the second repetition showcases Montique’s range with strained, higher pitched vocals. She fades the chorus with some scat singing, the first time leading perfectly into Wiley’s verse and the second time flawlessly merging with NGHTMRE’s piano outro. The mood of “No Coming Down” has highs and lows, featuring both turn-up music and contemplative moments. Its structure of intro, verse, chorus, verse, outro make the song an easy listen and begs to be played on repeat. For these reasons, “No Coming Down” is not only a great listen, but also worthy of appreciation.
NGHTMRE, Alex Wiley, & Sky Montique’s “No Coming Down” sets a standard for future-bass based hip-hop that others should follow. Hopefully, these three artists will not come down from their current standard of dope music.
COVER PHOTO: Mad Decent
About Robby Fineman
Robby Fineman comes from Newton, Massachusetts, to contribute to the music section of our Entertainment team. He is a Marketing major who has some DJ experience under his belt, specifically at Bar Mitzvahs.
Robby Fineman comes from Newton, Massachusetts, to contribute to the music section of our Entertainment team. He is a Marketing major who has some DJ experience under his belt, specifically at Bar Mitzvahs.
