Hirow – “joy ride”

Hirow released a new single, “joy ride,” on Friday. The track is the artist’s latest in a string of releases this winter, and his final before Hell is Empty, Vol. 2.5 drops next Saturday, December 10th.

“joy ride” is ominous from the start, opening with layers of distortion and eerie, moaning vocals. A quick beat drops, and Hirow begins to rap against the textured noise, keeping a stilted-yet-steady pace. 

Many of the lyrics are obscured in the echoey soundscape, but certain lines stand out for their clarity, like “why the fuck you coming up to me?” and “I don’t wanna talk,” solidifying the mood as one of confrontation and high alert. 

At the close of the track, Hirow’s vocals fade into the background, though we can make out “Think I lost my mind.”

“joy ride” show’s Hirow’s ability to pair complex sound and production choices with stirring lyricism and creative delivery. Stream the track below, and stay tuned for next weekend’s release.