Wavy D: A Lyrical Native New Yorker Takes On Time

Melodies and plucked guitar strings… Wavy D’s hip-hop pulls at the heart in his lyrical quest to explore vulnerability in The Big Apple.

While Wavy D ’s inspired lyricism and dynamic flow justify why he should be one of the greats, he’s also searchingly honest about the uncertainty that comes with his musical journey. He’s willing to talk about the waiting period between the start of an artist’s career and the goal of finally making it, especially when that period is filled with constant personal and systemic adversity.

“Outro” showcases how exasperating it is to constantly hussle, especially when as an artist you have to battle between authenticity and marketability.

I don’t even need luck no more / need bucks no more / see things they would touch me for

These bars are a rejection of all conventional means of obtaining success, especially when those means are constantly fleeting and can easily hurt you back. “Outro” rejects the notion of “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. He reminds listeners that even if it is work you love, work is work. It can be hard when the means do not feel like they  justify the ends.

I’ve been around the city to find a face of feelings / but every time all I find is compensated healing

I love how Wavy D addresses the difficult relationship New York natives have with the infamous Big Apple. I feel like it needs to be said. This can be a hard, hard city. While New York City has been a worldwide cultural marker and hub for artists and creatives of all kinds, its constant demand for quick success as a means for survival has hardened its residents, making it difficult to express and receive tenderness. Wavy is no stranger to this.

His song “Mama” is a heartbreaking reminder that time is a debt that is difficult to repay, especially in relation to family and intergenerational sacrifice. What can we give back to the people we love when they’ve given us years, especially in the little time that is left? Especially if those years were spent trying to find love in places and people that were never guaranteed to stay?

Sorry for taking long… there was traffic in my heart

In a social climate that constantly demands certainty, Wavy D does not shy away from admitting he hasn’t found resolution, and maybe never will.

Sometimes, existing – and continually existing – is the only answer. Or it is, at least, the passageway to finding an answer.

You don’t need me, but I’m here

Listen to Wavy D on Soundcloud