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 Released: December 21st, 2013Recorded: November 1st - November 19th 2013 Jungle City Studios, New York City, New YorkGenre: Hardcore hip hopLength: 5:25Label: Permanent Reminder Writer(s): Tealiyah Phuong, Sarojini Lui, Airemese Smith, Nina TaraminoProducer(s): T-Minus, Mikhil SBackground + Single Description"Salute" is a song by Asian-American recording artist Liyah, taken from her upcoming debut mixtape which has been pushed back into 2014. It features additional vocals from hip hop artist Lotus and PBR&B's most notorious duo, Rum & Coke. The song was written by Phuong, Sarojini Lui, Airemese Smith and Nina Taramino while the production was handled by T-Minus and Nikhil S. Musically, "Salute" is a downtempo hardcore hip hop ballad that also incorporates elements of R&B, New Age, and space music. The lyrics speak of each rapper's struggles in life but ultimately overcoming them and being able to recognize each other as strong women for it. Liyah references this by the single track, 'Salute' which she deems 'fitting' for the situation. "When you see a real woman, instead of putting her down you should salute her and be proud. You shouldn't be jealous or start talking trash. Females have the game all messed up," states Liyah. Phuong had wanted several rappers to feature on the song with her but she wanted all females at the moment. "I feel like women need something to be proud of and have a hip hop anthem because there's a zillion R&B songs for when they get hurt or cheated on and all that but as far as hip hop? I sure didn't see any so this is what this is." Although some criticized her seemingly diss towards other females in the industry. "It's supposed to be an anthem for women to help each other but she disses some in there as well? Isn't that taking away from the point?" States one critic. Liyah addressed the statement saying, "The point is to salute REAL women, not all women. I didn't write this song for deadbeats or murderers or fakes, you know? So yeah, I called out the females who are fake and who doubted and still do doubt me. That's just proving my point though, you can't say I was never real with females in this business, even if I had beef with them. If I felt they were genuine and real then yeah, I can apologize or congratulate them but if I don't feel that, then I keep it moving."
"Salute" is a relatively slow-paced, retrospective downtempo ballad that draws heavily from hardcore hip hop. It is also influenced by other genres, such as R&B, New Age, and space music.The "anthemic" and "inspiring" song features a low-key, woozy, and snaky production, accompanied by prominent military-style drums, heavy synths, and rough, hard strewn beats. "Salute" has been described as one of the few songs that Liyah's delivery is "calm and collected" while she raps some 'tough' and 'gritty' lyrics. Rum & Coke both add their influence to the song with Coke singing the chorus and Rum giving her own verse which talks about life from Cuba and the hard times she endured. 'Shit and sometimes the T.O was worst then Cuba so you didn't see the fuss/In Cuba you didn't get shot 3 times while you was getting off the bus/You weren't prepared for what too much fresh air does' The next we here from is rising female rapper Lotus as she expands on the theme of the song which is struggling to get to fame. However, she proclaims struggling isn't a problem anymore in the last two lines of her verse, which is similar to the chorus, 'One of the few who refused to become the streets' victim/One of the few to realize struggle is nothing but a phantom'. This serves as the second theme of the song. Originally, the song was going to be named 'Phantom' but all four of the rappers agreed 'Salute' was a much better title.
The last to wrap up the song is Liyah, surprisingly delivering another verse which is very much one of the standouts on the track. She really implements her rapping ability by being able to switch it up from the calm demeanor to the somewhat fire that's been lit underneath her. It's the perfect way to cap off the song with her quick witted metaphors, 'And without competition you just on the stool spinnin/Rumpelstiltskin, tryna turn your shit into gold' and the perfect ending lyric, 'And this don't need a hook, cus this is over/We drvin bitches mad just call us the rap chauffeurs (Go)'. It's clear that Liyah has proven a very worthy and steady competitor in the urban community and this song was the one to prove it. Liyah also takes a personal side in the song when she even mentions the incident with her ex, who committed suicide in front of her at a cemetery. 'I'm praying to my baby cus he's dead/Witnessed as he took his handgun to the head'
"I feel it has the perfect mix of female rappers on there to give the track depth. Despite all the negativity and drama, this is the song that can be positive. Yes, it's like that one song about struggling and all that but it's deeper than that for me. I may not have gotten so personal to the point where I just told all my business but I shed some light on it. I never talk about because it hurts but in the song, it didn't hurt as bad. It happened years ago but it's still something relevant to me. Any teenager that goes through that, mad respect. This song is all about forgetting struggles but remembering what we had to do to get to this point. It's typical Asian Nation."Lyrics[Verse 1: Liyah]
This is a fucking anthem, this all the truth
Shout out to my homeboys, at home by the hoop
Anything you been through, put ya fucking hands up
Let em know you never scared, ain't never had no good luck
E-E-Everything I have I had to go out on a hustle
Selling by the gate with my cousins as the muscle
I'm praying to my baby cus he's dead
Witnessed as he took his handgun to the head
I can't go to sleep, without contemplation
Shout out to the lady who let me hide in her basement
Shout out to my partners, my goons, my cousins, Asian nation
My brothers from the block with no blood relation (Yeah)[Chorus: Coke]
Keep yo' head up above the clouds
Ig' all of those holdin' you down
Keep it moving
Prove to them that struggle is a phantom[Verse 2: Rum]
Yeah , okay , we made it to Canada
Escaped from the ghetto of Bayamo, Granma
Because even when you were dragged to church by your grandma
You already knew what you were finna do
See , that same night you was about to sneak out with yo' crew
Even though you was only twelve you really thought you were cool
Spliffin' , drinkin' , fightin' and rappin' a little too
Who would've thought after your parents found out they would make you move ?
Shit and sometimes the T.O was worst then Cuba so you didn't see the fuss
In Cuba you didn't get shot 3 times while you was getting off the bus
You weren't prepared for what too much fresh air does
Because nobody told you that stainless steel could rust
So even if you were moved into a good neighborhood , getting in trouble was your must
And that's always what them bitches at the school expected
But throw your middle finger up and point it to the ones disrespectin' and just ...[Chorus: Coke]
Keep yo' head up above the clouds
Ig' all of those holdin' you down
Keep it moving
Prove to them that struggle is a phantom[Verse 3: Lotus]
W-w-w-wait , I believe you should already know the drill
If it's me on the mic , you know I'm going in for the kill
If it's coming out my mouth , you know it's nothing but real
If it's coming from my heart it's something you're gonna feel
Shout out to my past , I'll never forget where I came from
I remember the time when I wanted food , I'd have to steal some
Had to hustle for my fam even if it wasn't exactly wholesome
Always had to worry about our needs , never had the chance to focus on my wants
And I guarantee I wasn't the only one
Just one of the few to tell the streets I was done
One of the few who refused to become the streets' victim
One of the few to realize struggle is nothing but a phantom [Chorus: Coke]
Keep yo' head up above the clouds
Ig' all of those holdin' you down
Keep it moving
Prove to them that struggle is a phantom[Verse 4: Liyah]
Just when you thought that I was over
Bring it back around shut bitches down, like foreclosure
Yeah, okay you hot for the minute
But if I'm not winnin' then I'm not even in it
And if I'm not in it then there ain't no competition
And without competition you just on the stool spinnin
Rumpelstiltskin, tryna turn your shit into gold
But you didn't even know that the power I was holdin
Wait, you said that I wasn't nothin'
You was sayin I couldn't do this shit and that I need assist
When in reality before this shit came to be you was dismissed
Just a figment of my thoughts, you don't really exist
And every time I hear you talk it adds to my fire
You try to knock me down but then I climb two steps higher
Somebody said you were a queen, call that bitch a liar
I'm always for my team no matter how that shit look
You start swingin' but I come in with that left hook
And this don't need a hook, cus this is over
We drivin bitches mad just call us the rap chauffeurs (Go)[Chorus: Coke]
Keep yo' head up above the clouds
Ig' all of those holdin' you down
Keep it moving
Prove to them that struggle is a phantom
[Chorus: Coke]
Keep yo' head up above the clouds
Ig' all of those holdin' you down
Keep it moving
Prove to them that struggle is a phantom
Sounds Similar To: Edited by user 30 December 2013 05:56:21(UTC)
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