After a stint in the military, Cali-via-Houston rapper Emphasiz is fully invested in his music career, and he's just dropped off a promising single: "Fuck It Up." With its mix of trap drums, heavy bass, and haunting synth textures, the instrumental -- produced by Rudi Reapa, Schmack Beats, and Emphasiz himself -- is immediately intoxicating. As are Emphasiz' raps, which have a nostalgic, Three 6 Mafia-esque appeal to them. The result is a unique record that's difficult to pin to a certain region or era.
Emphasiz told Pigeons & Planes that the song is about holding onto one's ability to "Fuck It Up" in the midst of hard times: "Between possibly getting kicked out of the military to friends being killed to getting fucked over by promoters, I found a way to express my frustration and have fun through it all."
Quotable Lyrics
Actin' like they don't understand me, huh
I ain't even speakin' Spanish, yet
I ain't even doin' damage, yet
They tryna take me for granted, bet
