So I Thank You, Then I Love You: The Final Exit
The Goodbye This tape is a follow-up to the last, but it carries a different weight. The title comes from a famous Dr. Claude Anderson speech. As he leaves the stage, he says: "So I thank you, then I love you." It’s a goodbye, and goodbyes are always hard.
The Last Song For the intro, I had Riz sample the Kauai bird. It’s extinct now. The audio is the last male singing to find a mate, but no one responds. He keeps singing until he eventually gives up. It’s the ultimate somatic sound of loneliness, being the only one left in the room.
The Motivation "I See You" is my attempt to channel that Nipsey Hussle energy. It’s a motivational record for anyone trying to better themselves. "Don't wait for nobody, do better by yourself... and if there's a time that you ain't loving on yourself, just know I love you." It’s about finding the strength to keep going when you're on your own.
The Adaptation "To Death" is a fan favorite. It’s an ode to a girl, but the lyrics were originally written for a completely different record. They fit this production so perfectly that I had to switch them. It’s vulnerable, but that’s what this archive is about, the "Penalty of Genuineness".
The R&B Flip I found the Xscape sample for "I Can’t Make You Stay." I was listening to old R&B and knew the vocal had to be flipped. Riz slowed it and pitched it up to create that high-fidelity, nostalgic feel. This is possibly my favorite on the tape. Like the track before it, these lyrics were meant for something else, but they found their home here: "Time froze up, when your eyes swole up. I give you nice little touches, and your eyes glow up."