Joe Plata’s musical roots are deeply embedded in his childhood, spent between Liberia and Ghana, before he moved to NYC at age 13. Music was his first passion, and it was a hobby that swiftly morphed into a full-blown obsession, leaving him with no choice but to pursue it diligently. Taking inspiration from some of his favorite artists, Joe dived deep into his musical passion and created his own sound. Instead of following trends and imitating others, he has carved out a unique path for himself, one that is essentially about his style and identity, as he well understands that it’s a lot easier to strike out on your own rather than having to satisfy the ego and musical tastes of others.
From the opening notes of ‘How Free,’ it’s evident that Joe Plata is a first-rate lyricist with a knack for poetic rhyme schemes. The opening lines, “Money don’t make me, I’m Joe Boy, sipping on my alcohol like Joeboy, laughing to the bank and back watching Jo Koy… underscore his witty wordplay and promptly grab the listener’s attention.
The beat is modest, very smooth, and crisp, laying a polished red carpet for Joe to walk on, which he does with glitz and glamour. His calmness and composition on the beat are two things that stand out as he lets the referenceable and meaningful words resonate with a listener on a pensive level.
Beneath the intricate rhyme patterns, thoughtful bars, catchy hooks, and excellent vocal delivery, ‘How Free’ carries a deep message as Joe confronts the difference between reality and perception. Hooks like “How free is a man without his own choice” carry deep meaning, complemented by lines like “What money can’t buy is what America needs right now.”
With this tune, Joe confronts the status quo, challenging our perceived ‘reality’ and making us rethink the fallacies sold to us by the political divide or those in power seeking to own, control, and divide us. This is a soundtrack to help us see through the delusions.
A purposeful masterpiece with replay value, ‘How Free’ showcases the power of hip-hop and rap to tell it like it is.
Check this track out and let us know how you feel about it.
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