Big Q - Love Yourself First (Video)
Taken from his opus last year, "The O.G.," an introspective tour de force of wisdom & emotional intelligence, we're now treated to the visual treatment to "Love Yourself First," which's just in time for the summer. This record is one of the ones to enjoy during a hot day but one with a little bit more substance. I can't tell you how much I've been trying to find myself surfing on such a wavelength; in order to love somebody else, you have to love yourself first. It's crucial, or else that word loses all its meaning, let alone its power, but I feel it. Sometimes you just want to see what's inside their mind, but sometimes it can feel like we ask too much?
Maserati Marcus really did the thing with this production; I almost feel like DJ Khaled in those videos of him jamming in his car with the top down, shirt flowing in the wind, feeling really good, when this joint plays summertime vibes & Big Q just seamlessly flowing with it. That hook is so sweet; you almost can't tell it's him; impeccable switch in tonality between this infectiously groovy chorus & his heartfelt verses that are perfectly using his experiences to encapsulate the feeling of peace in a relationship beautifully. He promises you that by the end of this record, you'll feel like Boyfriend of the Year, or Daddy, depending on your situation & any drama of the past, no matter how recent, is still in the past & he urges you to leave it there where it belongs.
The video also comes with the disclaimer, showcasing the simple pleasures of life, good food, family & friends having a good time. The kids joining in on the fun too, nice weather, that cool breeze just kicking in, love how colorful it all is as they stomp the floor outside of Flavors. I definitely need to see the commotion in person after seeing this peaceful display of festivity; the vibes these two have extracted with this record are straight out of Squeezers Juice Bar, to which I've also never been, but need to go. All these beautiful murals, too, videos like this make me appreciate this city more & more, just glad we got artists like Q who know how to make a record without sacrificing the substance. You may be dancing to this, but his words stick with you as you are. Loving yourself is a painfully tedious journey, which is why we should celebrate the simple fact that we're still alive; you'd be surprised how much peace that can bring.