What can I say, but it’s Monday and once again I’m excited. No not because I’m currently stood on the platform in the rain waiting to go work. It’s because I can finally share this week’s Mellow Monday with you all.

This week’s song is special to me, not because I share any great connection to it, but because it’s by one of my favourite artists of all time.

Our musical relationship started way back when his Dfd album was released. I used to religiously watch DavidSoComedy on YouTube and found his exit song Girlfriend by Jon Mcxro. Whilst getting acquainted with that song, I saw in the recommended Cool and Calm by Dumbfoundead. And I’ve never looked back.

Dumbfoundead’s lyrics aren’t your standard rap. They tell a story of his youth, his growth, and his aspirations. He soundtracked my late teen years – on my 17th, I rinsed his Old Boy Jon album in the set up for the evening. 

During my college years, I listened to him whilst writing my essays and practice papers. I knew if I got through the entire Take the Stares album, I had spent too long on an English lit essay.

His verses that flow like a lyrical river, inebriates the mind, and even in my most stressful days, I mellow out to the silky songs present on every album.

I’m not going to lie and say he doesn’t rap about drugs, money and women. But he also raps about how it got to where he is, his family and the struggles he faced. If anyone remembers the AJ+ video about and American-Korean who released a song about the Oscar controversy, and the fact there is a serious issue with the representation of Asian actors in the Hollywood scene – this was him.

It’s always strange to hear someone talk about how a person, let alone artist has changed their life, but this man has. Even when I saw him perform at my soon-to-be work place back in 2012, I have never seen such a humble being in my life – plus his attempt at a British accent had me in fits of laughter for the following hours after his set finished.

Through Dumbfoundead, I have become acquainted with other artists such as Wax, Breezy Lovejoy and Andrew Garcia just to name a few.

I’m going to close this post off with a few other song suggestions, even though I recommend sitting down and just working your way through his entire discography:

• Clear
• W$TSDE
• Cool and Calm
• No More Sunny Days
• Are We There Yet
• It’s Not You
• and What Do I Have To Do (where he features but this song is still great)

Have a great day and fingers crossed I get to work on time. Enjoy!