Right Outside Your Frontdoor On My 12 Speed

Kevin Abstract “Empty”

I suppose we’ve come a long way if a young rapper is saying “I hate my boyfriend” in a song and getting blown by a football player in the video and people aren’t really talking about it. But then again, that might be because it’s getting swept under the rug. I hope that’s not the case, because “Empty” is a warm, thoughtful song in the vein of early Kanye and current Chance, and it’s a window into the mind of a young guy who’s torn up by nostalgia, mixed emotions, and a yearning for romance and connection. It’s a very accessible tune, but a bit strange outside of the matter-of-fact queerness – tuba is used as the primary bass instrument for a whimsical and off balance effect, and the children’s choir that comes in near the end undermines the adolescent angst in a way that feels at least somewhat pointed. The main attraction here is Kevin Abstract’s voice, which conveys a very specific type of young male vulnerability. There are points in this song where he flips from seeming petulant to wounded in a second, and it’s just so heartbreaking and sweet.

Buy it from Amazon.