By Kennedy Cook

Pink Sweat$ released his new single Not Alright ahead of his forthcoming album Pink Planet earlier this week. This pop-centric solo track discusses the artist's lack of being in a functional space, whether that be head-space, physical location, or simply not being able to pull himself out of his own stench. Through a stylized and polytonal beat listeners are able to hear Sweat$ pregnable lyrics over this modern-aged R&B track. The pure tone of the song follows the chill inclination of Sweat$ words revealing its transparent high-pitched chorus. Contrary to the traditional “Its ok to not be ok” mantra, Sweat$’s strategic yet prejudicial timing discusses how an African American is not and never has been been “alright” in this country, or even on this Planet: “I ain’t got no home, I been roaming on this Earth forever”. Here, Sweat$ provides listeners with a geographic indicator of the Black man’s home in this world over a continual synthesized drum beat. Sweat$ acknowledgment of his battle with his own demons pairs entirely with the oppressive nature of this world towards Black individuals: “Smokin' on my own, Momma say, ‘Go get your life together’, Got tabs all on my phone, Guess it's time for me to face the weather, I'm not alright, Fightin' a war that I'm gonna lose, I'm not alright, I can't do what they say I'm supposed to”. Here, Sweat$ recognizes that the feeling of hopelessness is not an unfamiliar one to him or Black people alike, while also acknowledging his refusal to conform. Not Alright synthesizes the longstanding worldly inequities caused by racism with the racialized landscape people of color have experienced since Earth’s conception.