In the five years since rising hip-hop producer Powers Pleasant left in 2019 Life Is Beautifulhis debut studio album life really sucks. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the sweeping Black Lives Matter protests that rocked his hometown of Brooklyn, New York, this trying half-decade culminated in Powers' sophomore effort, the thrilling Life is crapwhich was released on October 4th as his first full-length on Mass Appeal.
Featuring a host of hip-hop heavyweights including A$AP Ferg, Denzel Curry, Joey Bada$$, Mike Dimes, Saba, Dro Kenji, Dc the Don, AG Club and Guapdad 4000, Life is crap explores the dark introspection that has characterized much of the past five years, as well as the boundless energy and brilliance that New York's rap scene has recently channeled into drill and Jersey club fusions. From “That's Tough” to “Bandoe,” Powers shifts seamlessly between these two modes, never staying in one emotional space for long.
Life is crap it also features its share of women in hip-hop — like Audrey Nuna, Armani Caesar, Tkay Maidza — bringing the record into the conversation with the dominant female rapper trend in 2024. For Powers, the collaboration is about everyone, hence 21 different artists were featured throughout the album. “I don't give an af-k about any of that,” he says Bulletin board above Zoom as he makes his way through Mexico City ahead of the Curry's Club Mischievous Halloween live stream event. “I like drug artists, I don't care if you're male or female. I work with people who are on drugs and I try to give them a chance.”
To celebrate the one month anniversary of his latest album, Powers Pleasant has broken down five self-selected key tracks. Life is crap.
“SMH” (feat. Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly, Nyck Caution and Aaron Rose)
This is a slightly older song. It's with Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly, Nyck Caution and Aaron Rose. This song has such a place in my heart, it has a lot going for it and is one of my favorite tracks on the album. I love how it sounds like a boom-bap song, it's super vibey. We did that song together in Williamsburg. Everyone's going crazy over it, but Joey really killed that verse.
Most people don't even know it's him! He came out and performed it at my first headlining show at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn and it was a special moment that we all had on stage because we haven't touched the stage together in quite some time. It was a special moment for the fans of the first day and for me to touch my roots where I started.
“Bandoe” (feat. Denzel Curry, Meechy Darko & Soulja Livin Tru)
I made it with Denzel Curry, Soulja Livin Tru and Meechy Darko at Dot da Genius' studio, The Brewery in downtown LA – Denzel has a room there. It was my first time meeting Soulja Livin Tru, and he had this raw energy. He is very authentic and true to himself. I think that was the first beat I ever played, and he just walked into the booth and did the verse and the hook in one take. I was like, “Oh no, that's a hard king!” He had double orders and his flow was sick. I love showcasing lesser known artists with bigger artists and making together because it puts them in front of a whole new audience.
“Shmoke” (feat. A$AP Ferg & Armani Caesar)
I did it in LA with Ferg and Armani [Caesar]. Ferg was recording another track I had already made. At the time, I played him every beat I thought he would like. So, I was like, “Damn, I need something. I need some sts right now.” I was going through my e-mail and found some sts that had so much energy. I loved the horns. I knew I had 15 minutes to make the beat while Ferg was in the booth recording, so I had the my headphones to go to work He left the booth to listen [his playback]and he heard some of the new beats through my headphones and said, “That's fire, load that up.” She just walked in there and went crazy with Armani. their chemistry is so amazing.
It was my first time hearing Armani on a beat and she slipped into that st, it was so organic and real. I like when songs just come together and you don't try too hard to make something, it just comes naturally. “Shmoke” is the only song that has a sample – Daft Punk's “Technologic”. That s—t was expensive as f—k. We actually ended up interjecting it. We re-recorded it, so we would just have to clean it up on the publishing side.
I don't usually try that much because of his work – but I love the samples. As an independent artist, I don't always have the budget to flesh out certain things, so I like to work with multiple samplers or co-producers to get my vision across. If it's drugs, it's drugs. I will never do a few sts because there is a sample. It's all about what fits the vibe.
“Endtro” (feat. Denzel Curry & Hannah Mundine)
This is another one of my favorite songs on the album. I made it with my brother Tim Randolph. For this, I was thinking about the stadium situation – big, big toast music, but not necessarily just a bang. I wanted to incorporate different vibes, so the 808s warp into some trap s—t, but it's not a trap beat, there's boom-bap drums and a heavy guitar. When we were making the beat, [Tim] he sent me the chords that became the hook – and he was actually starting a new beat at the time. But I was like, “This is king crazy how it goes from nice st to super hard st.” It's like night and day, the confrontation between these parts was stuck in my heart. I love how it goes from this peaceful, angelic vibe with Hannah Mundine on the hook, and then Denzel goes crazy.
“Baby Boy Is Drunk” (feat. AG Club & Audrey Nuna)
It's kind of a crazy beat — I don't know what the f—k I was thinking when I did that s—t. [Laughs]. But it's bam! I like making weird sounds together. I was in the studio with AG and we made it together, and they slipped into this st so smooth. I've never heard anything like that from them before.
I was getting close to completing it [Life Sucks] and this was one of the last songs that was not fully completed. I was like, “Damn, who would kill this st? Audrey. She and the AG Club would go crazy.” I sent it to her, she tore it up and it became the song we know today.
With this album, I feel like I've grown as an all-around artist. I love forgiving working with Dot da Genius and Dre Moon – who are both incredibly gifted, talented, award-winning producers. I'm more intentional with how I create now. Putting myself in rooms with people who I think are better and more talented than me makes me go even harder because I feel like I have to be at that level. I'm always pushing myself and trying to be the best, so I love working with other artists and getting out of my comfort zone. Being comfortable is a drug, but you don't grow up in comfort. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable positions to grow and become amazing.
I never have a specific sound, it's just me wearing different hats. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with the next record. I think this might be the end of it Life series for now; we will open a whole new chapter.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/powers-pleasant-breaks-down-five-key-life-sucks-songs-denzel-curry-joey-badass-asap-ferg-1235826484/
