Dallas rapper Nana Bangz just released her new single/music video, “Alive,” a perfect example of this up-and-comer’s diverse style and swag. Inspired by the great female artists of the ‘90s like Lil Kim and Missy Elliott, Nana Bangz also brings her modern style to her trap-heavy work.
Bangz has been releasing elevated dirty south bangers since 2018. What’s noticeable is how much she’s worked on her craft. In an age where mumble rap has finally been ousted and clever verse is back on top, Nana has adapted and brought her rich vocabulary and ability to craft bars to her recent work.
Tracks like 2022’s “Rah Rah” and “Show Out,” released in 2023, show she has the heavy, intimidating presence of Lady of Rage with the fast-spitting ability of Megan Thee Stallion. It’s a deadly combination and certainly makes Nana one to watch.
Merging old and new, “Alive” opens with a vintage jazz/doo-wop sample before Nana’s heavy, raspy vocals drop. They don’t let up from there, with her intricate verse tangling around the beat, syncopating with it in a variety of ways.
The juxtaposition between the fighting, fiery verse, the one-word hook of “Alive” punctuating the intervals, and the lighter essential samples make the track much deeper than it may seem on the surface. The highs and lows of life, the intensity of emotions, even when they’re not always pleasant, the breaks of peace and calm: “Alive” discloses a life well lived, not to mention Nana Bangz’s skills.
The jazz-flavored sample with doo-wop savors infuses the intro with gleaming, drifting colors. Then Bangz’s tough, lashing flow takes off, followed by a silky, elegant section that features a sample from “Summer Breeze,” instilling the melody with a floating, mellifluous motion. Bangz interrupts the wistfulness with her supercharged voice, investing the tune with her lusciously aggressive flow.
Nana Bangz has it going on! “Alive” allows her to parade her vocal prowess, highlighted by both hard-hitting and melodious flows.
