Quavo’s New Track ‘Greatness’ Carried By Reggae Beat

Greatness, a new song released yesterday by American rapper and one-third of the Migos, Quavo, is a Hip-Hop experiment that owes much of its likeability to its backing Reggae instrumentals.

The song, which answers many of the questions surrounding the future of the Migos following Takeoff’s death, is sprawled across a distinctive, syncopated rhythm that is unmistakably Reggae.

Produced DJ Durel, the infectious track features Reggae horns that consistently add depth and character to the fast-paced lyrics, and a string of percussive beats that add texture to the Hip-Hop ballad.

Quavo’s decision to lean on Reggae music for this track is one that bountifully pays off, as the backing instrumentals afford the rapper an air of reflection and authenticity that’s hard to find on most Hip-Hop beats. It anchors his delivery in honesty, and draws attention to his lyrics – most of which broached the topic of Takeoff’s murder, as well as what’s become of the Migos in the wake of it.

To that, Quavo makes it clear: 

“Came in, swept the game like a storm with
The mother#@kin’ flow, nigga,
Take’ did that (On God)
So don’t ask about the group, he gone,
We gone, young ni–a, it can’t come back (Damn).”

His lyrics seem to imply that though he and Offset remain, there is no hope for the group to be revived. For many, that revelation is hardly surprising, as both Quavo and Takeoff seem to have buried their relationship, long before Takeoff was killed.

Even so, the song honors the rich legacy of the Migos. The group pioneered a great deal of contemporary Hip-Hop styles, and has been awfully successful in doing so over the years. From memorable tracks like Bad and Boujee to Versace, Migos stands as one of modern Hip-Hop’s most influential groups.