On a record full of defiant statements, “A Wall” is among the most forceful. Ruiz confronts and challenges her audience, encouraging us to decolonize our minds while examining our own complicity in oppressive structures rooted in white supremacy. It’s an extension of the band’s live shows, which are equal parts dance party and discourse. In between the driving bassline and soaring sax melody, Ruiz and DeFrancesco shout down jingoistic imperialism. But the record they cut will endure long after the current administration has left office, and “A Wall,” its opening salvo, perfectly captures their righteous rage. Vocalist Victoria Ruiz and guitarist Joey DeFrancesco earned their activist stripes organizing for labor and civil rights in their home base of Providence, Rhode Island they’re not used to watching from the sidelines. Listen: DJ Khaled, “Wild Thoughts” Įarlier this year, as the White House bungled the implementation of its “Muslim ban,” sparking airport protests and civil rights lawsuits, Downtown Boys were holed up in Steve Albini’s Chicago studio cutting their Sub Pop debut, Cost of Living. Add in the occasional over-exuberant ad-lib from DJ Khaled, and you have the recipe for a great summer bop. Bryson Tiller contributes a just-fine verse that expectedly mentions D’usse and not-so-expectedly references The Waterboy. Confident and restrained, Rihanna dips to the lowest parts of her range to make playful phrases about temptation sound as sensuous as possible. charts for the summer-but only if an English-speaking superstar jumped on it, as evidenced by Justin Bieber’s remix of Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito.”Īfter eight years of trying to get Rihanna on a track, Khaled finally landed an elusive feature, and her ability to exude carefree sex appeal proved a perfect match for the slinky beat. Perhaps Khaled knew a Latin-tinged pop song could rule the U.S. Strategic in his appeals to nostalgia, Khaled essentially recreated Santana and the Product G&B’s 1999 hit “Maria Maria,” retaining its shuffling Latin percussion and seductive guitar lines. “Wild Thoughts” is proof that DJ Khaled’s sheer determination to engineer Top 40 hits can actually pay off.