Fred Again…has a fascinating body of work. His solo material is based on electronic music, but whenever he crosses paths with hip-hop artists, the results are unexpected. “Stayinit” is an eclectic mashup of Fred Again… EDM, topped with Lil Yachty’s crooning. “Turn On the Lights Again..” turned Future’s first hit into a four-piece floor anthem. Fred Again… digs into his collaborative bag “Places to Be,” which may be his greatest style mashup to date.
“Places to Be” doesn’t contain any of the nightclub vibe of Fred Again…’s most famous song. This is a bright, sunny pop music sung by Chika and Anderson .Paak. The key to the beat comes from the vocal sample and stuttering drum beats, but it’s the soaring synths that really make it irresistible. The synthesizer is a sound transmitter that makes the audience feel like they are soaring through the aforementioned sunny skies. It’s a fitting feeling considering the song’s lyrical themes. Chika is the first to be heard on “Places to Be,” her smooth, effortless delivery fitting perfectly into the exciting beat around the minute mark.
Fred once again…drops his catchiest single to date
Fred Again… and Chika both did their jobs, but Anderson .Paak stole the show. The artist goes completely crazy creating half-spoken, half-sung verses that manage to stay in sync with the beat. The lyrics aren’t exciting, but they’re very relatable. “Nice brown, round, and makes my knees weak,” he said. “Slow down, your brother, I’m re-pacing me. I’ve been gone too long, baby, don’t go. Okay, but mess up, step on the gas.” The production of “Fred Again…” The final seconds of “Places to Be” get upbeat as it brings back Chika’s voice and slows down the tempo. This will be on many summer playlists.
What do you think of “Places to Be” by Chika, Anderson .Paak and Fred Again? Do you like the tweaked sound of Fred Again…? Will Anderson .Paak steal the show for you? Is this a candidate for the song of the summer? We want to hear from you, so be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section. Also, be sure to follow HNHH for all the latest news about Anderson .Paak, Chika, and Fred Again…and finally, follow us to stay up to date on everything happening in the world of music.
Run the numbers, move the axes, like I’m NASA
But if you believe they put a man on the moon
And then, damn, what do I do? (I have to)
Gotta move that ass, yeah
Tell me what that fast lane looks like
About the author
Danilo is a writer from San Diego. He graduated from the Tucson Art Institute with a bachelor’s degree in digital media and began a career as a pop culture journalist. Prior to joining HotNewHipHop.com, he performed hip-hop covers for Heavy.com, Rhyme Junkies and PopMatters. Danilo’s top five is constantly changing, but Biggie and Slug from Atmosphere remain permanent fixtures. His favorite rap album of all time is Kanye West’s Late Registration, and that remains the same.
