Well, what a song for my first assignment. I doubt I could’ve picked a more appropriate one that would compliment where I am at in my life than this one. Rob Nollan is a MC/producer out of Tacoma and his latest is “Circle” which also features fellow Tacoman Ace Loner. The track starts with a thought provoking sample before we get to it.
The Matthew McConaughey quote on the cycle of time from True Detective frames for the listener a head space that readies you for the reality-slapping words to come. This eases you into a soft tempo and then pow! The hook comes in. “Round and round, round we go”. 2Pac flipped, but here the classic mantra weighs heavier as we find once we get into the verses.
There’s some wise words coming out of East Tacoma here. “Circle” captures the grey of the Northwest, and mental health is definitely a subject often neglected by the majority due to the image it imposes in the minds of others. No problem for Nollan and Ace. Really, Hip Hop should thank them by at least adjusting its hat in their direction.
