"March/Don't Be Afraid" by Detroit Che
Explanations for both tracks are listed below .. "March" - I started working on this song while Keys and I were in New York. It started as a freestyle. We had arrived to our hotel from the airport. We got our room keys and saw that our room number was 3703. Keys and I had already planned on working on some new music while we were out in NY. We wanted to make an EP, but instead we came up with the series #RainInJune. Long story short, I was listening to this beat that Keys sent me and I kept saying, "I'm in room thirty-seven .. Oh-three." Like, I couldn't get it out of my head! I sat on it for a few days because I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take. Then I came up with the hook "They only want you for the money trees. They only wanna take my seeds." When you start elevating, people will cling onto you for your benefits. Most of the time it's because of your money. In another line I said, "I get money on my own. Alone, in my tree home." That line describes how lonely you can feel, despite the number of people that you're around. For example, you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Or have you ever had everything but still felt empty? Yea, that's the feeling that I'm talking about in that specific line. This song is similar to my song, "Stuck and Sticky" on "NOAH." It's really chilled, but it turns up at the same time! .. "Don't Be Afraid" - This is definitely one of my favorite tracks that I've recorded so far! Although I couldn't wait to share it with you guys, I knew it was going to be a tough song to interpret. I even have to listen to it over and over just to understand it, and I actually wrote it! (Hahaa). As far as the title, I chose "Don't Be Afraid" because I had to remind myself throughout this recording process, to not be afraid and to follow my heart. Each line is very special to me because it describes some real s***. These lines are based on real people with real stories. Ex: "Medication made me crazy, I'll get better on my fucking own." That line was based on someone who told me how they felt crazier when they took their medication versus how they felt without it. They told me how they didn't want to depend on their meds anymore. My first response was, "No bro, take your meds." But I slowly started observing commercials for medication, and seeing how some of the side effects caused people to feel worse than they initially felt. Such as: suicidal thoughts, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, etc. Personally, I can relate to that line too. I haven't slept over 10-11 hours since 2013, and I honestly don't know how I'm still up and going. However, I hate depending on sleeping pills to catch z's, but my body just won't let me sleep in! Sometimes I'll smoke and that'll help me, but at the same time, I'm still depending on something to help me sleep, which sucks. I'm sure that I have a few listeners that dislikes depending on certain things for sanity/relaxation, so I know you guys will relate to "Don't Be Afraid." In another line, I said "I'm thinking outside of the box that they boxed you in." I was talking about my fantasy of one day finding a man who's willing to think outside of the box (a box of Trojans) and be fully committed. I won't say all, but a lot of men nowadays make kids, then leave. Not necessarily because they don't want to take responsibility, but because they don't know how to. Seeing this action of neglect over and over, society, specifically women, starts to put men in this "box." The "you're going to leave once you get what you want like the other guys," box. But in this line, I describe the perfect guy who makes me think outside of that box that society puts him in. I see a difference in this guy. He's not like the rest. (What a beautiful thing to imagine, right? Finding someone who isn't like the rest .. Finding someone who makes you think differently about them, despite what society has to say .. Finding someone who makes you feel daring, but yet safe in their presence .. That's beautiful). I hope you guys like it! Ask questions if you have any! - Che. Produced by ALI. Keys .. Twitter: @DetroitChe @DopeDiv_Ali Instagram: @DunkinDonutDon @DopeDiv_Ali