With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear curated by the Levels team. We sort through all the new songs—across all the platforms and subgenres—so you don’t have to. Thank us later.
On “Time” Maxo’s self-reflection starts with the song’s warm instrumental. Produced by Vik and LastNameDavid the beat features a chilling deep-voiced vocal sample, unhurried and dirty drums, and serene keys. The L.A.-based rapper doesn’t waste a second of the production, on a song in which he uses his easy-going storytelling to muse about how time is escaping him.
Early last year with his EP Smile, Maxo gave us rap tales that displayed a palatable and relatable earnestness. On “Time,” Maxo’s music remains just as personal—and the single even uses an old photo of his grandmother as its cover. The cover art is fitting for the West Coast rapper, who is most comfortable when he’s rhyming about those closest to him: “Remember poppa told me, you don’t got to be friends with those niggas.” And although he is concerned about how his life is flying by (“On my mama, time thinning by the day”), his outlook is positive and hopeful (“Looking back on the ones that I made, with a smile on my face, cause I’m still here today, nigga”). “Time” is the perfect introduction to Maxo, a rapper telling intimate stories about his loved ones and his own personal growth.
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Maxo and more on our Spotify playlist, Apple Music playlist, and SoundCloud playlist.
