Quicksand

Album: Streets Sermons (2020)
Charted: 65
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Fayetteville, North Carolina rapper/singer Morray turned to music as his escape after serving time in juvenile detention and jail. Morray was on the brink of giving up his rap career when manager Moe Shalizi got in touch with him after coming across this song on YouTube.

    Through Shalizi, Morray signed with Pick Six Records and released "Quicksand" as his first single on October 30, 2020.
  • This sung-rapped autobiographical anthem finds Morray comparing his tough upbringing on the Fayetteville streets to quicksand.

    Since a jit stood tall with a kickstand
    Thinking of a plan to get quick bands
    Falling in deep with the quicksand


    Since his youth, Morray has wanted to make quick money to escape his life in the hood, but he found himself trapped, unable to find a way out.
  • Asked by Billboard what inspired "Quicksand," Morray explained the songs he'd been making were about the standard rap tropes of cars, clothes, money and women, but because he'd never been wealthy or successful himself, he had to "watch videos and listen to music to figure out how to talk about it."

    One day, Morray's wife told him the music he was writing wasn't him. "This is a Chris Brown or a Drake or somebody that's already out there," she said. Both "Quicksand" and "Big Decisions" came out of that conversation, which Morray found easier writing because his lyrics actually happened to him.
  • Morray co-wrote the song with the track's producers, Ant Chamberlain and Hagan. One of Moe Shalizi's other clients, star electronic producer Marshmello, served as the mixing engineer.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."