The flow of LIV† gives us something to remember. Feeling nostalgic, listening to LIV† drop coins for black women, I felt empowered. Installing a concept of self love and knowledge of identity in “Unbothered,” a new single from her upcoming EP, Black Girl Unbothered, LIV† spreads veracity.
Beginning with a light cymbol tap mating with honest keys, LIV† floats with the sound. Lines like “tell me does it make a difference … tell me, are you really listening / or did the drugs make you miss my speech” address the relationship of quality music and drug influence. Concocting a blended remedy of rapping and singing, LIV† educates people searching for highs on how sometimes the natural high of sound gets blocked when we fall to the synthetic drugs. The exposed honesty and wisdom continues throughout the track.
LIV† wakes the community with simplistic crooning of truths and the value of self. Revealing life experiences and images of the struggle, LIV† combs an 80s flare of storytelling into “Unbothered.” Taking us back to when the style was still inchoate and more about the message than the drum, LIV† displays the roots of authentic hip hop.
LIV† teaches us to hold our own, as “Unbothered” uplifts the African American woman. LIV† sings, “that energy is dangerous / I’m just grinding for my queens” giving off some Queen Latifah “U.N.I.T.Y” vibes. The resonants of neo-soul start to decrescendo into a spoken word of intense “checking.” As the track transitions into what sounds like a cabasa solo, we hear the encouraging words of “let ’em know you walk that walk / and let ‘em know you talk that talk.”
This tune from LIV† is one to open the eyes of black girls and women. “Unbothered” speaks on more than just the idea of being black: it exposes the truth of black culture and the way we cope and get stronger in our own skins. As you listen, keep the echo of “middle fingers to the whole world / if you don’t know who [LIV†] be” so you don’t miss out on history in the making.
Unbothered
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