It's fitting that the highest ranking Neptunes song on DOTY thus far is a track that sounds the least like typical Neptunes. There are no funk guitars, the drum sound is more robotic than live, and the synths are minimal - they still represent the biggest musical hook, but they're strangely percussive and faded way in the mix. If you weren't aware of the lyrical trends in hip hop (or Clipse's cocaine metaphors), you might think this had come out in 1988 or so. All that's missing is some scratching. Even Pharrell's falsetto is limited to a moment that is far more Kool Keith or Biz Markie than his usual Curtis Mayfield via boy band.
What makes it more than another retro rehash is the super punchy and oddly brutal drum sound that comes in on the offbeat late in each measure - amidst the typical crisp snares and handclaps you have this triple gunshot blast that comes out of nowhere. Put that in the mix with the cold, spaced-out synth hook and an eerily whispered refrain and you have a minimalist song that makes you feel like you're right there with the Clipse crew, without really glorifying their supposed profession with too much flash and bling.
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