Willie Mac's Two Cents
Over Keep the Change’s half-hour, Willie Mac Jr. expertly presents the challenges in acknowledging your weaknesses, the importance of recognizing and planning for the inevitable pitfalls that accompany your growth, and the payoffs that result from grinding to change your situation and locate true happiness.
I’ve come to recognize that many of us humans develop a distaste for change as we grow older and don’t even realize it.
Some may sabotage their opportunities with laziness or procrastination. Others might give in to the anxiety that life and its changes inevitably bring. I personally wouldn’t advise either approach. From my perspective, it appears the wise and successful smartly embrace change. Ironically, change will always be life’s most constant quality.
Those who become well acquainted with the instability life’s circumstances can bring do themselves and those who love them a great service. With his fourth project Keep the Change, Willie Mac Jr. details his readiness to meet change head-on, dropping gems along the way that any listener restless in his or her current position will appreciate. This nine-song collection differentiates itself from the Detroit rap scene while remaining authentic to its roots, foregoing the menacing piano-based soundscapes and electronic arrangements popular among the city’s artists in favor of mellow instrumentation and ethereal rhythms befitting its reflective nature. Keep the Change will inspire you to transform your dreams into reality. Considering the price of music streaming, this project is a true bargain. You normally don’t get this type of game in a place like Detroit without losing a lot of money — or worse.
You won’t need to dive into the depths of Keep the Change to find some valuable wisdom. As a student of the game himself, Willie knows all too well that hardships on the journey to bettering your situation can be discouraging. It is most certainly a grind, and progress is only gained through planning and force of will. Life will surely leave you scratched, battered, and bruised. But if you stop, who else can you truly blame? Experiencing pain and fatigue are not an option on this journey, but quitting is a choice. Even in the face of great challenges, don’t stop. If you are beaten to hell, at least have something to show for it.
Periods of growth and change can feel uncertain at best, and aimless at worst. But tracks like “On God” and “Rap Money” provide a detailed, confident blueprint for listeners who dare walk the tightrope in the balancing act of life. “On God” speaks to the power of faith: faith in yourself, faith in your crew, and faith in your God. This song begs to be played while cruising down Jefferson (for my Detroiters), or wherever you find yourself when it’s time to stunt. E. Will is featured here and his flow is impeccable, delivering an inspirational message while simultaneously disrespecting every bit of lackluster hustle within you — a true Detroit rap verse.
On your journey toward self-actualization, the path will be both fraught with danger and lined with opportunities. Never be afraid to divert your path at forks in the road. You live but once, and perhaps the mundanity of college and corporate success eventually lose their allure. In that case, better to grasp for hoop dreams, insta-fame, and “Rap Money” every chance you get. The government won’t be much help, and even your own family will occasionally question and discourage you. For these reasons, trust may always be a foreign concept, and Willie perfectly paints this picture on “Rap Money.” Seize the right opportunities, maintain focus, and maybe keep your vices of choice nearby (if that’s what you’re into, of course), and you will continue to grow regardless of any obstacles, roadblocks, or broken bridges.
While en route to becoming your best self, you’re bound to meet a few loves and explore your romantic side. Hopefully these experiences prove to be memorable, but even if they end uneventfully, always remember the passion they instilled and the boldness they provided. Pray they teach the essence of what Isis Damil effortlessly exudes in the chorus of “I Want You.”
The songstress teleports us to an intimate nightclub where she stands alone in the spotlight, the beat echoing as her vocals crescendo while Monalyse counters Willie’s perspective in this modern tale of electronic lovesickness. These ladies and their features enrich this project with their poise, talent, and genuine female perspective.
In fact, femininity and the female experience play an immeasurable role in rounding out Keep the Change’s diverse sound. Supercoolwicked brings a different kind of smooth on “Game,” her style here much more boppish than Isis’s crooner vibe. Supercoolwicked is essential in providing this synthesized, funky track the ideal ambiance for anyone sitting back trying to absorb some knowledge. Listen closely: there’s wisdom here for those looking to understand and grow with their partner. If you’re blessed, you’ll have at one great love in your lifetime, so respect and grow with that person as far as you two can manage. A fun and joyous celebration of black love, I can definitely call “Game” one of my favorites on the project.
Keep the Change is rich with unique and distinctive production, which again is a welcome change-up from the eerie, slasher-movie production prominent during this era of Detroit rap. However, when you do hear those haunting piano chords on “Scared to Shoot,” you automatically know what’s about to go down. On top of that, once you hear, “Helluva made this beat, baby!” you pretty much have full license to go ham.
A Detroit legend in his own right, Helluva produced the hell out of this beat, pun fully intended. The bass-heavy track really exudes the feel of a crazy house party, the type of song you envision playing as you enter the function: the speakers pulsating through the door and into your chest as you carry bottles of tequila over the threshold to a resounding “AYYYEEE!” from the homies.
“Scared to Shoot” communicates an important lesson learned during Willie’s journey toward self-discovery: knowing when to dig in and hit the gas. You miss every shot you don’t take, so take the damn shot! Stop using fear as an excuse not to try. When applied correctly, that fear can positively motivate you. So why are you hesitating on that job application, that event idea, that book pitch, that chance for true love? Trust yourself and don’t let your apprehension derail you.
In contrast, Keep the Change’s final tracks are sobering, particularly the project outro “Be Safe.” Willie poignantly highlights the importance of loudly and intentionally loving on the folks you cherish. In Detroit — and among many urban crowds, I assume) — many of us are rightfully jaded by senseless violence, almost like we’re experiencing a form of PTSD. Because of this, I believe, we tend not to overuse the word “love.” This isn’t to say we don’t experience it; we are human, after all. But we don’t distribute our love frivolously, and we don’t take it lightly. Love is just as powerful in our neighborhoods as it can be anywhere else, but where we’re from, there never seems to be enough to go around. Asking your friends and family to be safe is essentially the equivalent of expressing your love and concern in most circles. “Be Safe” is a jazzy track that will likely inspire you to pour up with your friends, and since none of us know the next time we’ll see one another again once we depart, I think that’s appropriate. Just make sure you cop the D’usse instead of the tequila for this one.
Steadfastness and perseverance are two undervalued character traits today. Technology and our ever-changing responsibilities make us exceptionally quick to judge everything around us, including ourselves. But life necessarily brings constant change, which means many of our endeavors will demand more dedicated time and effort if we’re truly passionate about them, because the first try may not always turn out perfect. Over Keep the Change’s half-hour, Willie Mac Jr. expertly presents the challenges in acknowledging your weaknesses, the importance of recognizing and planning for the inevitable pitfalls that accompany your growth, and the payoffs that result from grinding to change your situation and locate true happiness.
We all have moments when internal motivation is our sole inspiration for pushing forward. Always remember: that level of self-reliance is necessary if we expect to Keep the Change.