Clayton James – “Open Up”

Rapper Clayton James has had a busy July, dropping three new singles. The latest, “Open Up,” was released on Friday. 

“Open Up” begins with a blues-y guitar riff, a thread that is carried throughout the track alongside a quick beat. James matches the pace in his rapping, spitting out verses that give a glimpse into his headspace and the way he thinks about life. Standout wordplay includes “I turn my cheek to the cheaters / Put my ear to the speakers” and “Nothing in life is free / but good times are priceless / my homies run thicker / than liquor sitting on ice bricks.”

The chorus of “Open Up” keeps the momentum going. Its focal line is “So I pop the top / pop pop the top / My girl telling me I really need to open up.” 

James maintains a knack for rapping about themes like mental health and the state of the world in a way that feels light and amusing. Stream “Open Up” below.