The Singles Jukebox

Wrapping up your Friday with a song that made us think of another song.

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[6.17]Crystal Leww: “Rinse & Repeat” ended up being a bit of a runaway hit, played everywhere throughout 2016. Riton, to his credit, recognized the massive talent that is Kah-Lo, and has continued to collaborate with her. “Betta Riddim” never quite got the recognition it deserved despite having all the necessary components of a true dance floor hit. They are back here with Mr. Eazi and Davido for the light and breezy “Money,” which is sunny and cute and all about getting that paper. Kah-Lo is a real shape shifter; this is a far cry from the disaffected robo-voice of “Rinse & Repeat.” She opts for sunny despite singing about getting fly with her money. Mr. Eazi and Davido prove to be effective counterparts, trading off with her in the same sunny and fun tone.
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Iain Mew: The changes are enough that I don’t know if I would have pegged this as Riton or Kah-Lo without knowing, but on closer listening there is quite a bit of a lighter “Rinse & Repeat” here. Riton again demonstrates the benefits getting out of the way, producing another beat that’s blank enough to spotlight fine vocals. The extra reward is the way it slowly soaks up some of the trio’s personality and humour as they kick their topic back and forth, resolution shrugged aside.
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Micha Cavaseno: What is the ideal of pop if you aren’t from the US of A? Do you hope to get a DJ benefactor to strip you of your best qualities and put you over generic electro? Or do you calmly hope that Drakk will sample/feature & then remove/casually mention you? Join us as we watch some of the best Africa has to offer try to make do with the former and demonstrate little of why they’re worth being showcased.
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Will Adams: Just as “Rinse & Repeat” drew out the sinister aspect of nightlife monotony, “Money” highlights the discord between a similarly popular trope in pop music — Mr. Eazi starts off all “forget about the price tag…” — and reality. Kah-lo has the perfect rejoinder; money and earning it isn’t a burden for her, it’s a means to empower herself. Best of all, the thematic content of “Money” never feels too weighty. The trio’s banter is just as charming as Riton’s arrangement, a carbonated bounce filled with cash register quips and hooks all over.
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Will Rivitz: If you ever hear a house song described as “functional” and wonder what that term means, “Money” is a pretty good example: slickly produced, perfect for a bouncy DJ set, and fundamentally unexciting.
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Scott Mildenhall: Rarely outside of the great Jaffa Cake debate do competing philosophies have this level of immediacy. Of course there is one thing they can agree on — “money come, money go”, and it’s that which serves as an anchor in a whirlpool. It comes down to a similar principle of perpetual motion to “Rinse & Repeat”, but it sounds like a more obvious hit. It’ll be a shame if it’s overlooked.
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