Luke Bar$ is one of those artists that got me excited from the first listen.

‘Die with Pride’, complete with a visual compelling in its symbolism, is both a perfect single and a perfect snare that draws us into Luke’s world.  An uplifting hook soars over catchy Aminé-esque flute, the jubilant soul-infused production is tempered with narrative complexity, personality and snatches of darkness. You wonder, ‘who is he?’

In terms of theme, honesty and staccato delivery, the comparison with Kendrick is clear to be made, it’s perhaps even wryly acknowledged by Bar$ himself, ‘I know imma be a top dawg/ I know imma be a great’, he spits. However, comparison doesn’t serve to diminish the originality of the piece, Bar$ is telling his own story. ‘Good Kid M.a.a.d City’ describes itself as a short film, and it’s a useful lens through which to view Bar$’ work, which has its own cinematic quality.  

‘Die With Pride’ is taken from the project ‘GoodEvil’ and seeing it as an episode forming part of a wider narrative enhances our understanding of Bar$ as an artist.  On the track we hear self-belief and aspiration, ‘When I die/ bury me with pride/’, but also the hint of doubt and personal struggle,’I got too much pride/ I got too much shit that’s built inside.’  The song’s duality of darkness and light  ‘I come from a place where demons hide/ I said I got two sides’  is present throughout the project.  Listening to tracks such as ‘Gangbanger’ gives us further insight in Bar$’ life, ‘I got bipolar it runs in my family’ he tells us.

The visual for  ‘Die with Pride’ concludes with the Bible reference John 8:2 -  ‘the truth will set you free’. On ‘GoodEvil’, we hear an artist coming to terms with their identity, their history, their own mind, their own truth. It’s a cathartic, challenging journey but Bar$ has us in it for the duration, we can’t wait to see where he takes us next.