Softly impassioned bars light up a smooth lo-fi production, as Saint Rivera brings character and good vibes back to smart, purposeful hip hop.
Laid-back by design but also softly gritty in its self-reflection and depth, Good Flow sets an enjoyable, calming mood, and dives into a series of verses that feel decidedly vulnerable.
Saint Rivera leads with a fearless tone and poetic aura to his raps, and those two qualities shine brightly throughout the honest introspection and uncertainty of Good Flow.
Chilled-out but captivating, the single holds attention throughout, the pure humanity and heart of both the performance and lyrical threads adding a sense of intention and realism that’s dark but inspiring. Then there’s the songwriting aspect, the structure and flow, the fact that we always return to this rhythmically catchy hook – where ‘far from happy, far from fine’ repeats and resounds.
Just 2.5 minutes in full but impactful in a dreamy and hypnotic kind of way, Good Flow exemplifies the implications of its name, whilst injecting a clear degree of struggle and angst that’s refreshingly easy to connect with.
On top of this Txmmy Beats arrangement, Saint Rivera’s voice works beautifully, blending poetry and personal anecdote in a sharp and intelligent way; fusing references to hell, graves, and pain with those of mild optimism and possibility.
It’s a song that reflects on escaping into the moment, regretting the past and accepting the impact of that on today’s circumstances. That approach is fascinating, unexpectedly genuine, and the music alongside helps carve out an intriguing new pathway for Saint Rivera.
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