RESPECT. Premiere: Milky Mel - "Mama Told Me" - RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture

Picture by Jay Lawrence

Rounding out your teen years is a confusing time. You find yourself constantly looking in the rear view pondering over bad choices and missed opportunities (remember all of the “Damn bro, I should’ve gotten her number” moments) all while mulling over what the future has in store for you. 19-year-old Tempe, Arizona native Milky Mel is no different. After gaining some attention with his inclusion in our segment, ‘With All Due RESPECT.‘, Milky Mel is back with the retrospective new track “Mama Told Me“.

Going in over synth heavy production from fellow Arizona native tEChnician, Mel gives lethargic but catchy bars about growing up in a city where nobody has made it from, all while attempting to keep it organic. “I just finally got confident enough with my direction and music that I felt enticed to make a song that covered my life as a young adult” the Arizona State University attendee said over email, “I think the 2016 audience is looking for hip-hop that doesn’t rely on the basic tropes, the people desperately want innovation.” While the track highlights many popular notions in a young man’s — particularly a young artist — life, the one bar that sticks out is “I coulda went to Princeton for unofficial visits/by senior year my GPA was two point mind ya business!” because, honestly, who can’t relate to that? Those family parties where everybody asks, “How’s school? How are your grades” are completely unbearable am I right? Also, the Obama bit at the end is just gold. Seriously though, where are those birth certificates Barry??

The track comes in as the latest single from Milky Mel after the release of this years EP, Notepad, and reunites Mel and tECh who make up the duo underpressure. Check out the track below and let us know what you think in the comment section!