Detroit emcee Finale has drawn inspiration from another rust belt city for his newest video, “The Senator,” from his spring-released, highly acclaimed “A Pipe Dream And A Promise.” Both the song and video are based largely on David Simon and HBO’s Baltimore epic “The Wire.” The Senator in question is State Senator Clay Davis, not one of the show’s main characters but certainly one of its most fascinating and divisive. Davis is an exploitative figure that acts as an intermediary between drug dealers and real estate developers, pocketing cash from both sides all the while. Finale uses Davis as a means of getting the point of the song across: calling out liars who are fronting as something they aren’t. The song opens with the line “I heard a lot of y’all talkin’ / A lot of you not walkin’.” Finale even manages to make Davis’ trademark exclamation “sheeeeeiiiiittttt” a centerpiece of the song’s chorus.
The Refined Take:
1) I’m digging Finale’s style on this cut, but to be honest, more than anything it makes me want to go watch some episodes of “The Wire”. That’s a testament more to how f-ing unbelievable that show was than any shortcoming on the part of “Senator.”
2) If someone hasn’t already, I’d love to a full mix of “The Wire” and hip-hop songs. Let’s make that happen people. And if you know about one, hit me up at nathan(@)refinedhype.com
3) They did an amazing job of synching up the clips and the lyrics. Would have been nice to work in a Snoop clip, but other than that, well done gentlemen. Well done.
4) If you’re feeling Finale’s flow, check out his music on iTunes by clicking here.
Read more: Videos, Finale
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