Doing laundry in my room while shuffling through songs, my ears were bombarded with the shouts of “Wake Up.” Jarred and unable to focus on my simple task, I kept waiting for the rap to reappear. Just so I could decide whether I liked it or not. Fast forward a few years and I’m jamming to the chaotic cacophony that is NF.
First impressions are important, so it’s only fitting the first artist study would be on the rapper that made a wild first impression on me. He doesn’t advertise his life (commendable if you ask me), but much can be learned from his lyrics. Married with a child. Parental strife. Seeking God. Escaping in music. “Let You Down” from Perception became an international top ten hit. But like he says in The Search, “Let You Down’s the only song you’ve heard of, well then you’re behind” (“Why” June 2018).
His drop of “Hope” left me jittery. Not just because I love his music, but because I realized something incredible about his work. Priding himself on “real music,” NF usually pulls content from his personal struggles. Giving us creatives a beautiful road map of the chaotic, winding path of storytelling and character development. Just take a listen.
Mansion
After hearing “Wake Up” from his album NF, songs like “Notepad” and “Mansion” flooded my mind. High school me related to the walls built by his lyrics. The rooms of regret that can’t be repainted and the sense of fear lurking in some closet. But the only way to let out all the bad is to open the door. And that’s scarier than the fear.
Fear came to my house years ago, I let him in/
Maybe that’s the problem, ’cause I’ve been dealing with this ever since/
I thought that he would leave, but it’s obvious, he never did/
He must have picked a room and got comfortable and settled in/
Now I’m in a position, it’s either sit here and let ’em win/
Or put him back outside where he came from, but I never can/
Cause in order to do that, I’d have to open the doors/
Is that me or the fear talking? I don’t know anymore
“Mansion,” NF, Mansion. March 31, 2015
With songs like “How Could You Leave Us” from Therapy Session, there’s a distinct image of a broken man. One who fears what people will say if they knew what hid within the walls of his soul. The lyrics themselves, once you hear them a few times, build a house in your mind through description. Diving into the psyche, we come across the idea of not wanting the fear but unsure how to separate yourself. Shifting into Therapy Session in 2016, the tone maintains an ominous feel. Though that depends on your perception.
Intro III from Perception
Despite not having an intriguing name like Perception or Keys, “Intro III” has a lot of power. The persona seems odd until you realize it’s the darker side of NF singing. His regret, fear, anger. Whatever you wish to name his alter ego, we all recognize the internal voice of criticism. And NF talks back. In this personal argument, NF wrestles with the voice in his head while setting the tone for the rest of the album.
You’ll spend the rest of your life in my backyard or back of my mind, depends how you see it/
Put the shovel away, time to go back in the house now, you’ll be out in a week/
Tellin’ me you want your room back, that’s funny; what? You ain’t got nowhere to sleep?/
I’ma just look out the window and laugh at you, this is crazy to me/
‘Cause I thought you had me in a prison this whole time/
But I’m the one holdin’ the keys
“Intro III,” NF, Perception. October 6, 2017
While the ending hits home, there’s a single line in the middle that’s telling. “You say you wanna own your life, then wake up and take your own advice.” Everyone knows the answer. Everyone has the keys. But it’s up to us to enact the knowledge we have and make a difference in our lives. That’s when NF shifts into “Outcast,” locked in a cell until he chooses to let himself out and stop restricting himself to what he believes people want. “Intro III” is another step in the right direction, even though he’s dealing with problems. At least he found his way out and began the search.
The Search
Sure, “Let You Down” is a nice song. But the best stuff came before. And after. “The Search” opens by walking through each of his previous albums and talking about the various burdens he’s dragging along. Similar to the intros, we get a lay of the land and a direction for the album. Primarily his search for meaning beyond the fame.
See we’ve all got somethin’ that we’ve trapped inside/
That we try to suffocate, you know hoping it dies/
Try to hold it underwater, but it always survives/
Then it comes up out of nowhere like an evil surprise/
Then it hovers over you to tell you millions of lies/
…
Every day when you think you’ll never be great/
You’ll never be great/
Not because you’re not but the hate will always find a way to cut you up and murder your faith
“The Search,” NF, The Search. May 30, 2019
Within the album, NF offers commentary on his mood after hitting top of the charts in “Interlude.” Within one minute, he states that hitting number one and having a sold out tour didn’t make him happy. So many reach for the top expecting to find all the answers. But when he touched the peak, he spiraled. Was this it? He’d accomplished all his dreams, so was life simply done? Thankfully, his question in The Search got answered in 2023. He found the map to hope.
Hope
Lost my mind when I heard “Hope.” And freaked when I saw him, for the first time, wearing white. After years of sulking in black, he’s gotten hold of the music. And himself. The mega fans will need to forgive me; Hope was the first video I watched of his. Couldn’t be helped; I listen for the words. Still, phenomenal storytelling of being pulled in circles by his fear and anger. The same baggage from Mansion. Yet in this opening, he has an answer to the concerns of The Search.
What’s my definiton of success?/
Creating something no one else can/
Being brave enough to dream big/
Grinding when you’re told to just quit/
Giving more when you got nothin’ left/
It’s a person that’ll take a chance on something they were told could never happen/
It’s a person that can see the bright side through the dark times when there ain’t one/
It’s when someone who ain’t never had nothin’ ain’t afraid to walk away from/
More profit ’cause they’d rather do soemthing that they really love and take the pay cut/
…
It’s believing in yourself when no one else does
“HOPE,” NF, Hope. April 7, 2023
My favorite section has to be the ending when he’s arguign with himself and finishes by “taking the reins.” So much of his music is raw and pain-filled, his damaged side holding onto the raps. Now, he’s in control. Learning and growing to overcome his traumas and fears. To the point of forgiving his mother in “Mama” and mocking the elites who crave awards and fame in “Motto.” He’s not perfect, but he’s not trying to be. Simply learning what matters in life and how to be a good man, husband, and father.
Where’s the character development and storytelling?
You just read it. NF’s journey from living in a cursed mansion to reaching for hope has been detailed throughout his albums. Most books and movies make character development a straight line. An easy A to B within a couple chapters. But growth is messy and scattered. Humans dwell on their problems, trying to find someone that relates. They attempt filling the emptiness and uncertainty with pointless things until they find it in themselves to change.
Now that’s character development. And a character that constantly strives for completeness makes for a good story.
Another effect of his storytelling that we can all utilize is pacing. “Story” from Clouds (2021) is a great example. Not only do his lyrics create the scene, but his pace shifts the tone. All of his music has various instruments and sound effects that push the atmosphere in a certain direction at any given moment. He doesn’t sit in one consistent rhythm; he tweaks. Usually without warning. Words are important, but pacing sets the tone. Filling negative space in a design, writing various sentence lengths. There are ways to create a unique atmosphere without saying exactly what you mean.
Final Thoughts: Listen
“Wake Up” rattled the cage, but raps like “Til the Day I Die” and “Oh Lord” got me questioning how I walk my faith and view God. Every time I listen to the lyrics, I hear something new that impacts me personally. A hidden line makes me smile, and small moments stick with me to where I can’t help but quote. They’re easy to miss in a fast rap, but I’ve learned to become a quiet listener.
Our world likes to say that it’s all about you. People must affirm you, everything should please you. But if the only voice you hear is yourself, then the most you’ll learn is what you already know. Take a pause, get outside yourself, and actually listen to someone else. Sometimes it’s jarring and uncomfortable, but that’s the way you learn and grow. Become a quiet listener, focusing on the melodies of someone else’s tune.