Firas Durri

I hadn’t heard of Joell Ortiz until he joined the rap group Slaughterhouse a couple years ago, but he’s slowly become one of my favorite artists. ‘Cocaine’, a captivating track from his new Free Agent album, shows why.

The song opens with a sample from rock band Nazareth: performing live, they ask the audience to chant ‘Cocaine!’ DJ Khalil takes this refrain and puts it on a loop of Nazareth’s guitar riff, creating a bracing melodic backdrop for Ortiz’s storytelling.

Dear Coke, what’s the deal, how you been?
It’s been a lil second since we was getting it in
Know I kinda abondoned you, but you know what?
This music shit was promising, look, I’m about to blow up

But I ‘member hugging a scrip in my old chucks
Trying to get more bucks, dodging a gold truck, we had it sewn up
You ain’t get no cut, still you pumped for me
You was just happy that we both lived comfortably

What’s up with dope and them niggas, they still getting guap?
They had the whole block itching like the chicken pox…

Glad that I ain’t a felon, they never caught you with me
If they only knew that you had grew to a quarter a week,
I’d have been on the phone up north ordering briefs,
Sweatpants and something white to toss on the feet

But they didn’t, could have been different,
I wrote about that while this kite was being written
Listen… (Cocaine!)

Guess what I’m trying to say is I’m done
We had fun, not to sound like a jerk but I won
I’m doing things the right way cause you showed me wrong
The people pump our stories when I throw it on the song

I’mma ride this thing out till the motor gone
And when the rode get bumpy, I’m still holding on
Till I’m out the project grass and got a model lawn
The sky is the limit, but you know Joe trying to go beyond

But God forbid, that don’t work? I never went soft
I’m back in the hood picking right up where we left off
This is a heads-up, don’t count me out dog
If things don’t go right, I’m going left like a southpaw

Back to punching dudes in the face for trying to mouth or
Serving all the fiends that be tryna be tryna get they couch off
Ay yo coke, don’t forget about the kid
Might need you one day if I happen to get up out the biz

Never forgot where I came from,
Where I first started to scoop my lil bit of change from:
(Cocaine!) That’s his name, son