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- December 22, 2021
Continuing the idea of “Keep your pace, keep your peace,” Shane Kidd recently released a collaboration with fellow Atlanta artists J Nolan and Lucius to tell the story of how slowing down is at times necessary. Accompanied with warm visuals, “Speed of Life” focuses on the battle of anxiety, which can oftentimes feel like a race. The artists remind listeners that the best thing to do to overcome anxiety is to slow down and not become consumed by the world around us.
Shane Kidd believes in “Renewing minds and redeeming dreams” in a world full of brokenness and uncertainty – he fights for something different as he intersects conscious thought, everyday struggles, and persevering faith to inspire listeners to press forward. The Dallas native and Atlanta resident gravitated towards hip-hop’s home, New York, for his sonic library. As he heard more and gained an affinity for artists like Nas, Mos Def, and The Roots, he eventually picked up a pen and pad, desiring to be an emcee conscious of the world around him.
Calm and jazzy piano keys underpin the main message of the track – slow down – during a harmonious intro. When J Nolan hops in with the first verse, a heavier kick beat accompanies his pronounced bars. He relates his lyrics to recent events of the pandemic while reminding us that there is no rush to get to our destination, especially not when there is so much life to live around us. A soothing bridge reiterates the overarching idea, accompanied by Lucius’s velvety vocals which provide a relevant slowed-down feeling to the track. Shane Kidd delivers his artistic lyricism skills in the second verse. He focuses heavily on the struggle of the “grind” that society seems to be obsessed with these days, prompting listeners to question when does the push to continuously be great end? He drops a shout-out to Houston before returning to the idea of “Keep your pace, keep your peace.”
“Speed of Life” is equal parts relatable and introspective. Its message is one that will always be relevant and might serve as a useful reminder as we near the end of 2021 – we must be intentional with our time in order to actually enjoy life.
