The Ones: Quin NFN’s “Stay Down”

With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear curated by the Levels team. We sort through all the new songs—across all the platforms and subgenres—so you don’t have to. Thank us later.

Quin NFN - “Stay Down”

Teenaged Austin rapper Quin NFN’s music usually falls into one of two categories: the booming chest-thumpers where he’s talking his shit and the more melodic meditations where he’s by himself, consumed by his own thoughts. Most of his best songs have been the flexers until the kindly “Stay Down,” his most thoughtful song yet. It’s about the burdens of being the chosen one, the person who is going to make it, the pressures of delivering on that promise, and the drive to take care of those who depend on you. “I’m feeling like it’s all on me/They never asking how I feel but they gon’ call on me,” he raps through a nasally singsong, after urging those closest to him to trust in him. He wants the pressure but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it. The threat of failure looms large, the odds are stacked, but he is keeping a running list of those that bet against him. There are notes to self, as if this is just one checkpoint on a long journey. Quin NFN’s proud of how far he’s come, but on “Stay Down” he reaffirms that there’s still so much at stake.

Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Quin NFN and more on our Spotify playlist, Apple Music playlist, and SoundCloud playlist.

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork