
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the joys of getting to write about music is hearing music I otherwise wouldn&#8217;t have the pleasure of experiencing. When I began listening to &#8220;Hard Headed&#8221; by Who&#8217;s This, I had no idea what to expect. Needless to say, the following several minutes of entranced listening defied my expectations along every step of the way, and what a special gift that is to receive.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20200902-210009-1606323268975.jpg"><img src="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20200902-210009-1606323268975-651x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13804" width="326" height="512" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;Hard Headed&#8221; blends a complex mix of soul, rock, rap, spoken word, singer/songwriter and electronic music over the span of its five and a half minutes. At times the structure feels similar to a work by Yes or one of Kendrick Lamar&#8217;s more daring pursuits from To Pimp a Butterfly- rhythms change, the narrative of Who&#8217;s This&#8217;s vocals guiding and setting pace for the instrumentation below him. The music is what I would consider progressive in its approach, yet where even the most daring of acts in that world can all too easily step off the rails of accessibility, &#8220;Hard Headed&#8221; remains planted firmly in spaces of familiarity. And perhaps by design- the dark soul that bridges the spoken word and rap sections is immediately sweet to the ear, as are the lyrical flows of Who&#8217;s This, delivered with sureness and palpable defiance, coasting over the organ and drum beat below like a necessary Trojan horse of message ushered in on the familiarity of its instrumentation. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The honesty espoused by the vocals never make these turns feel tricky or unearned. Quite the opposite. &#8220;Hard Rock,&#8221; as Who&#8217;s This is referred to throughout the song, catalogues the pain, confusion, trauma, despair, pride, tribulations, and growth of a Black man grappling with identity and existence in a world that is often at best blind to his existence. &#8220;Hard Headed&#8221; feels like survival, like falling into a diary of someone you&#8217;d like to know better. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Do yourself a favor and listen to it, then listen to it again. &#8220;Hard Headed&#8221; by Who&#8217;s This is out now, don&#8217;t miss this one.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4kUSc56yvHgNC9sAnopPzO">https://open.spotify.com/track/4kUSc56yvHgNC9sAnopPzO</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGiHQt8TlJc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGiHQt8TlJc</a></p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Review by Bobby Guard</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/realbobbyguard">https://www.instagram.com/realbobbyguard</a></p>