Feb 2022 rap hip-hop rnb indie-rap indie singer-songwriter collab
Jacob says: This FAWM has been about trying new things and really pushing my creative limits...which is what happened when I decided to write a rap song. OK here's the deal: I have never rapped in my life. I don't really listen to much rap or hip-hop. So I did what every good Millennial should do...and went straight to YouTube. I learned about the 16 bar theory. Sweet.
Starting the write for a rap song was a wild challenge, like where to even begin? I started with finding a 4-bar groove. Then I wrote the first line after it popped into my head. I had written down this repeated "are you scared?" line in my notes and I felt like that fit for a good hook. My lyric is very repetitive on purpose, I felt like it gave me the best chance to finish it out. Once I got to a chorus section I just started singing random things and landed on nice contrasting response to the stark lyrics to use a passage of scripture from Psalm 23. Soon as I heard the melody I knew I needed a female vocalist on this and asked Hannah to collab since we are both worship pastors in Christian churches. She did an incredible job with melody and harmonies and I hope I did her voice justice!
I discovered that rapping is HARD. So the vocals don't quite match what I wrote because getting me to sing so many extra syllables that quickly proved be tough! I was getting more comfortable with it after several hours on it, so I'd imagine if I spent more time with it I could get it closer to how I imagined it, but this will have to do. I have never mixed a song like this so hopefully it sounds balanced. Overall I dig how this turned out!
EDIT: I've updated the mix with more kick on Bootlegger's recommendation
Hannah says: Thanks so much Jacob for inviting me to contribute vocals! What a cool feel it ended up having; I’m so impressed with Jacob’s intuitive composition and delivery even within a less-familiar genre. Also fun to collaborate with a fellow worship pastor.
Are You Scared? (feat. Hannah Busse)
Feb 8 / JEW / MC Steel
I never liked living in a valley
I don’t like what it always does to me
Got me feeling things, seeing things
Like ghosts in a mirage, yeah I think I have a problem
It seems like every time I rally
I have killers coming back to find me
Got me digging up skeletons
Like bones in a montage, yeah I don’t know how to solve it
Are you scared, are you scared, are you scared?
Are you scared?
I’m willing to serve up a volley
I gotta decide if you are my enemy
ID the origin of haunting
Like words in a barrage, yeah I’m stuck in the prologue
I wanna meet you in an alley
I can’t decide if you’re what I need
OD on pain and suffering
Like birds in camouflage, yeah I don’t know who's evolving
Are you scared, are you scared, are you scared?
Are you scared?
In the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
The Lord is with me, the Lord is with me
In the valley of the shadow of death, whom shall I fear
The Lord is with me, the Lord is with me
I tried to move to a mountain
I thought different air would be healthy
Got me itching to pick a fight
Like brains in shell shock, yeah I might have to prolong
I tried to be my own accountant
I wanted to write a better version of me
Got me seeking for a new life
Like flames in an old clock, yeah I don't know my own theme song
Are you scared, are you scared, are you scared?
Are you scared?
I'm trying to lay still and count ten
The truth is I probably need surgery
MD any doc with a sharp knife
Like feints in a deadlock, yeah I'm still too headstrong
I wanna meet you in a fountain
I can't ignore if you're just a fantasy
HD where true colors shine
Like saints in a cellblock, yeah I know I'll never belong
Are you scared, are you scared, are you scared?
Are you scared?
In the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
The Lord is with me, the Lord is with me
In the valley of the shadow of death, whom shall I fear
The Lord is with me, the Lord is with me
Are you scared, are you scared, are you scared?
Are you scared?
@tpthehouse Mar 2022
Good mix. I was pleasantly surprised by your tone on the rapping bits. Pretty darn good for your first rap ever.
@faceofeinstein Mar 2022
I agree that rapping is hard. This worked out great, especially for your first attempt. The beat is solid and the female vocal works really well to add some texture. Great collab. Cheers.
@richaaaay Mar 2022
Definitely pulled this off. Nice job on the collaboration. Fun listening.
@oswlek Feb 2022
Great! That tremolo synth in the refrain is boss! Chills galore. There are definitely some times where it feels like the vocal could be tightened up, but I would have attributed that to FAWM. Never would have guessed this was your first attempt. The kick is just right, so whatever you did worked. :)
Hannah's vocals are spectacular. Just the right touch.
Great job.
@jamesstaubes Feb 2022
I enjoyed this. Yes, rapping is hard. The good ones make it look easy. But @jacobeverettwallace I think you did great. The track is cool, that keyboard pattern is hooky. Adding Hannah on the vocals was ace.
@jp123 Feb 2022
Held me to the end. Nice work.
@seemanski Feb 2022
Nice one for breaking barriers, rapping is one thing I wouldn't dare attempt. This is great, loving all the low end on this it really bounces.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
Wow, if that’s your first effort then, well just wow! I love the attitude that you’re delivering the lines with, it really needs that kind of commitment to feel authentic. Production is top notch too, really punchy with loads of interesting bits of ear candy thrown in. And then Hannah just adds a sheen of class with her vocal, because that’s what Hannah does ;)
@timfatchen Feb 2022
I've never had the courage to do this! First write, bloody good! And the backstory coming through the lyrics bites. Hannah's voice adds a special feel. And that's a good setting of the Psalm, too. Enjoyed this!
[EDIT: only my 6th download this FAWM so far....But how often do I have to shout "put your name in the file name! ? grrrr.]
@taracraig Feb 2022
Incredible write especially for your first attempt at the genre. What a fantastic, powerful and modern take on Psalm 23.
@crisp1 Feb 2022
Another cool surprise from you! And Hannah's vocals add an awesome dimension to this song. Wow!
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
Jacob this is phenomenal! What a great rap! Powerful use of images and language. Strong hook! Love the delivery and Hannah’s vocal contributions are superb! I love the mix of rap with the melody and message of Hannah’s singing. Very effective! Excellent!
@serene123 Feb 2022
This is so cool! You can definitely pull off rap! Enjoyed this
@bithprod Feb 2022
Wow! You've proven that you're able to pull off rap as well. This is pretty darn impressive. The Hannah part was an unexpected surprise. I've listened to my fair share of rap through the years, and I think you're definitely very talented!
@kevinmason Feb 2022
I love this. For never having rapped before, you nailed it! The contrast between the rap and the sung section is perfect.
@geoff61 Feb 2022
I think this is very accomplished, the best compliment I can say is I am going to download this and put in my playlist
@jessicamoon Feb 2022
Umm… I love it! I’m not a hip hop expert but I love how this sounds. The refrain are you scared is awesome and I really like the female vocals when they come in they add so much. I could hear it on the radio. It reminds me of twenty one pilots a little…
@majordanby Feb 2022
This is so good, Jacob and Hannah! For someone who doesn’t really like hiphop you sure got a great sound. I listen to hiphop a lot and know for a fact that I would sound whaaaaaack if I tried. Haha! Fantastic song. So good!
@n24 Feb 2022
I love the Hannah's vocals in the 'In the valley' section, they match perfectly with the tone of it and create a nice juxtaposition refreshing the listener for the next verse. It's really great to see people taking on challenges that aren't their usual go-to, and I think you did an amazing job, certainly the tone of the track feels perfect for the rap vibe you're going for and I think the bars you've written are great! It's certainly not a challenge I have plucked up the courage for yet so ace job!
@bootlegger Feb 2022
Dang. Totally left field. I think it works. I don't have any Complaints that's for sure. This definitely isn't anywhere near what I would ever expect for you. If I had any complaint at all it would be the production. Mostly that kick isn't hitting as hard as you'd expect given the genre. But it gets what it's going for across well enough it doesn't really matter. That's just being super nitpicky. Also I totally understand its fawm so that's really not a concern. Cool song.