By Mina Wiebe

On first listen, there’s not really anything revolutionary about Boogie’s new track “Rainy Days”, but its catchiness pulls you in. The first time I heard it I was in the back of my friend’s car after a night of drinking, and I don’t know if it was the booze or the song itself, but my initial impression of the track was that of indifference. The words “bitches” and “hoes” filled my ears, and almost instinctively, I ignored the lyrics and focused on the beat. I don’t know about you, but when I hear lyrics like “I cheat on my queen for a hoe” and “[b]itch, I’m thirsty and blessed”, I sort of assume that the lyrics aren’t going to be anything worth paying attention to. But when you look past the sexist undertones, there’s actually some unexpected substance.

The melancholic chorus tell you exactly what the song is about: “I’ve been thuggin’ through my rainy days for days”. Boogie proceeds to rap about about his past rainy days, how he came from “a place where the shit can get shady” and how his chances were slim. Although it’s not uncommon for rappers to write lyrics about their past struggles, there’s a reason they continue to do so: everyone loves an underdog who comes out on top, and that’s exactly what Boogie does with this song.

Then Eminem comes in, rapping about his own past struggles that he’s had to overcome. “I left my legacy hurt? Fuckin’ absurd” he raps, with his usual anger-filled tone. Like Boogie, Eminem has had his fair share of past struggles, particularly with facing vast amounts of criticism for his often controversial lyrics. Both artists use the lyrics as a way to vent and show people that despite the hardships they’ve faced, they’ve still managed to come out on top. Again, there’s nothing revolutionary about this, but there’s something satisfying about the success of an underdog. Some may say the song is a boastful display of arrogance, but I’d say it’s two people who have worked their asses off and are rightfully proud of overcoming their rainy days.