Hangman
by Dave

Album: Single release only (2018)
Charted: 30
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This freestyle finds Dave continuing his mission to put the world to rights. The South London MC kicks off the track by talking about people who show fake love until confronted with something they disagree with.

    I see a lot of man let their jealousy creep in
    Watch who you eat with, the girls that you sleep with
    Watch who you talk with, walk with, speak with


    Dave explained to Genius: "Those first couple lines was just like, the situation that I had gone through when I had written the freestyle, it made me open my eyes and just say that to world. Like, 'Yo, watch the people that you're around, and everyone that you think is your friend.' 'Cause social media makes everyone seem really friendly until the situation happens, and then you start to question all the people you're around. So, that was me thinking that, and feeling that and putting that into the world."
  • Nana Rogues supplied the instrumentation for the track. The London beatmaker's other credits include Tinie Tempah's "Girls Like" and Drake's "Passionfruit." Dave recalled to Genius:

    "I had worked with Nana Rogues on a beat before this one. So we had done a track. It's actually a pretty small world. I saw him out in LA. I know him through a friend. And then we ended up coming back together and making music.

    He was cycling through a lot of beats, and this had a completely different swing. It had a '90s hip-hop-type of feel. It had that sort of West Coast synth to it. And yeah, I sat down and said, 'Remove everything apart from the piano.' So, we removed everything apart from the piano, all the drums, the bassline. And we started again. And then he beat a beat around the words. And a lot of it was very minimal, no drums, just the pianos.

    And then it kicked in, and then a low bass line. And that was it really. The switch up at the end as well, a moment of genius from him. He just came and improvised some jazz chords on a light piano."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.