Abe the Kid & drinkabir Team Up to Consider Internal, Global Conflict in “WAR”

New York City-based artists Abe the Kid and drinkabir continue their ongoing collaboration with new single, “WAR,” which exemplifies music’s function to address the emotional root of political issues with an impressive display of introspective lyricism and sonically engaging production.

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Stream: “WAR” – Abe the Kid & drinkabir

It’s an understatement to say there’s a lot going on in the world right now.

Between ongoing violence in the Middle East, protests and counter-protests on college campuses, a former president standing criminal trial, an upcoming presidential election, the continued invasion of Ukraine, natural disasters, and more, the general public is understandably overstimulated and tense.

For many, music provides an escape, an opportunity to turn your brain off and unplug from the real world, but lyricist Abe the Kid and producer drinkabir’s new single “WAR” asks listeners to think a little bit harder. With this song, the duo utilizes music as an archive, capturing a pervasive feeling at this present moment in a society that’s fraught with division and turmoil. In the past, musicians have often played a dual role in mainstream culture, providing comfort for the masses and being a voice for those incapable of articulating their innermost thoughts. “WAR” exists in a hybrid category most resonant with Gen Z’s sprawling attention span; media can no longer exist in a definitive genre and must fulfill multiple areas of interest, which points to the heart of the song’s dissonance surrounding morality’s function in entertainment.

War - Abe the Kid, drinkabir — War – Abe the Kid, drinkabir

Diverting from a tradition of dry and overt preaching in conscious rap, or other music with a social interest, “WAR” principally prioritizes sonically intriguing music in support of a message. Further, rather than using their musical talents essentially as a soapbox to advance a specific cause, Abe and drinkabir avoid moralization in favor of exploring the internal conflicts of young artists coming into adulthood during a time of great confusion and polarization. Featuring satirical refrains and an interlude of the now viral meme of Vice President Kamala Harris, the duo carefully crafts a musical experience rooted in the present.

The producer and instrumentalist drinkabir provides smooth production for Abe the Kid to flawlessly weave in and out of various flows and address diverse, complex topics. The melodic backing vocals driving the beat create a gentle soulfulness which Abe eases into with a laidback and subdued delivery. This approach creates an air of warmth in the song, which allows the listener to digest the carefully crafted verses. Slowly, as it builds in intensity, the depth of the song becomes glaringly apparent as the floating production starkly juxtaposes the weighted subject matter of Abe’s lyrics. The music and lyrics create a simultaneously bright yet haunting soundscape demanding multiple listens.

Unlike many strategic artist partnerships that exist solely through online exchange, this collaboration was born out of various hours spent in Abe the Kid’s Chinatown studio, All Street. The duo’s commitment to music has forged a deep connection and friendship that bolsters their musical output.

Earlier this year, the duo released the single “Pigeon” with the rapper Blkchrst through face to face studio time. As two native New Yorkers, Abe the Kid and drinkabir have a relationship that runs deep, as they frequently perform together and have mutually supported one another in navigating New York’s independent music scene.

As a member of the LES based artist collective All Street, Abe the Kid continues to build out his studio at the collective’s multimedia space and art gallery on 119 Hester Street, where Abe also created all supporting visual assets for “WAR.”

drinkabir has played a crucial role in the development and growth of All Street’s trajectory in the music scene, as he has both performed in and introduced many artists to the space.

Surely, the two artists have much more thought-provoking music to come as they continue to experiment in the studio.

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