Richmond, Virginia rhymesmith BlackLiq and producer Mopes give listeners a boombap sound that’s still fresh and not outdated on the gritty song “Dumb.” “Dumb” is at points defiant towards the mainstream philosophies of “get money,” but also accepting towards others which involve knowing one’s worth. It’s a study of contradictions, between families, between friends, between lovers, and how those contradictions color our outlooks on life. I love the production here, but Black’s lyrics are the star here. They’re gruff and gritty, but also smooth and delivered with a touch of melancholy over the world and its craziness.

It’s almost hard to believe that this song is just about two minutes long. That’s because there’s not a wasted second on the beat, as each lyric, bar and pause furthers Black’s conversation on the way the world works. Truly, it’s one of those songs that understands that we’re given a finite time to make our points and, well, makes its points clear very quickly. If you need some harsh reality lyricism with a smooth delivery, check this one out below. It’s the second visual from BlackLiq and Mopes’ Time Is The Price project, which is now available. Support dope music in all its forms and remember to keep pushing even when the world wants to hold you down.