Self-reflection and redemption seem to be a phase that many rappers and hip hop artists go through. Whether it’s Coolio looking back on his gangsta’s paradise, or Usher baring his soul (and abs) with his confessions, it seems we never get tired of having their dark secrets revealed and their sins repented. If you’re a fan of these themes, it’s a good idea to check out rapper Famoe’s latest track ‘What I’ve Been Through’.
Famoe – What I’ve Been Through
Famoe is a rapper with international influences; a UK artist born to Italian parents and now based in Stuttgart, Germany. With a career that began in the early 2000s and has taken him through various competitions, labels and musical ventures, perhaps he has more to look back on than most.
‘What I’ve Been Through’ is a soulful rap with a singalong chorus, reckoning with the big questions of life and trying to make sense of it all.
Famoe’s lyrics clearly have a lot of queries on his mind – ‘What if you’ve lost your faith? What if you’ve known nothing but pain?’ – and show his uncertainty as to whether he’s made the right choices – “Heaven or hell, I been asking those questions” – but there’s still a carry-on positivity through it all, as he states that “Love isn’t far away on this road”. The titular chorus is memorable and easy to sing along to, and there’s a pleasing simplicity to the song’s emotion, clear-eyed and honest and light on the self-pity.
The production sets up a nice groove, with a wailing synth riff, soulful piano chords and jittering beats. There’s a late 90s/early 2000s feel here, reminiscent of artists like Nelly or LL Cool J, so any fans of them may find enjoyably familiar ground here. There’s also a mildly epic, walking off into the sunset feel here, which makes sense when you realise the song is being used in an independent movie! Hopefully, this latest release brings nothing but good things for Famoe, he’s been through a lot already.
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If you like Famoe you might also enjoy Mic Assassin
Words Eden Tredwell
