In my near decade of being enthralled with Issa Rae’s depictions of awkwardness and insecurity, one thing I could always count on was getting put on to great music. 2021 marks both The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl’s 10th anniversary and the conclusion of a groundbreaking five years of Insecure. In honor of that, here are my two favorite songs (one from each property) that I got hip to while watching.
Childish Gambino – L.E.S. (2011) [The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl]
Until this point, the only thing I knew Donald Glover from was the excellent series Community. And honestly, I think that’s the only thing I really need to know him from. None of his other endeavors, including his alter ego as a musician, do much for me. However, the sweeping strings and that driving beat that start this track off are infectious. The song depicts his rather unmemorable night out with a woman on the lower east side, but the production on this track is top tier. It breathes the vibes of that neighborhood – having been there exactly once, I am an expert. Trust me.
Radiant Children – Life’s a Bitch (2018) [Insecure]
The end of the third season’s premiere saw Issa Dee sleeping on the couch of the guy she made a bad decision with, in hot water at her non-profit job, driving for Lyft to get extra money for her own place and figuring out why the Party Lyft idea may not be the greatest idea (even though she did get the opportunity to pick up Nathan with the face). It’s that classic moment in your late 20s where so many things are out of your control, so many things suck. Despite what the title of the song may lead you to believe, it’s not about giving up, but about letting go and doing you. The bass line in the intro is fun and funky, like a 70s throwback and the sing-a-long hook is a strange, wonderful, conflicting mix of nihilism and optimism.
Hi, I'm Kia 