Pieces Of A Man is upon us. We recently chopped it up with Mick Jenkins, who came through to hold it down for our "Between The Lines" series. Mick opted to break down "Understood," his recent Kaytranada produced single; anybody familiar with Mick's work understands there's often a deeper meaning. Luckily, we had the man himself to break it down.
"Old heads versus young dudes," reflects Mick, referring to the song's chorus. "Most of the time it just be a misunderstanding. A Stuck in the ways mentality that keeps you from understanding somebody. A dismissal of the past that keeps you from understanding people. I think that rift extends beyond hip-hop into the streets. Into life." He explains that "Understand's" chorus centers around that principle, while highlighting the importance of language. "Whether it be body language, ebonics, definitions of words. Deep conversations about language, which one you speak?"
Mick proceeds to showcase his insane flow, proving that content and technical prowess can indeed go hand-in-hand. "Perspective and points, went from selecting electives to collecting the coins, to rejecting investments to connecting with legends and stressing acceptance," he raps. Citing an example early in his career, Mick explains that he previously found himself thrust into situations where he felt pressured to perform. "Man, what I'm bringing to the game, and what I have to say is so much more pressing than worrying about, you know, did I please Statik Selektah?"
For more from the gifted author himself, be sure to check out Mick Jenkins' brand new album Pieces Of A Man. Should you be looking for a deeper dose of water, peep our interview with Jenkins right here.