“2055” by Sleepy Hallow

2021 was revolutionary for the hip-hop game. Ranging from Lil Nas-X to Eminem, all the greats dropped a new album, single or cover with help of the extra quarantine downtime. With so many recognized artists and influencers entering the music field once more with new music, smaller artists are finding it hard to find their way into the limelight. Sleepy Hallow burst into the spotlight with a banger song, “2055.”

As the song started, I heard the melancholy tone that artists seem to prefer in the current age. My first impression upon hearing it was to immediately write it off as just a regular song made by another regular Joe Schmoe off the streets. Since I use music as background noise, it took me a couple of replays of the song to fully grasp the soul of the song. I am glad I took the time to, because it was game-changing.

Starting with a soft and faint voice, Sleepy Hallow warms up to the beat with a few indiscernible words. As the beat at the front of the song reaches its climax, the words sharpen to a crisp and clear rendition of his chorus.

“I just wanna slide, parties in the sky like its 2055,” Hallow sings. Modern technology has grown and developed so much that even if you compare life 20 to 30 years ago to now, it doesn’t seem like the two worlds are the same. In an interview by Genius, Hallow talks about how “we already got facial recognition” and how technology is “just going to get weirder and weirder.”

As the chorus winds down, Hallow hits the listener with arguably one of the most profound lyrics in the song. “Heart cold like some water and some ice,” Hallow sings. In his interview with Genius, Hallow explains his urge to add this to the chorus. “The reason I say my heart is cold is the s*** I’ve been through. I have the ability to put my feelings on freeze for certain situations that I’ve [encountered], [it’s] like a defense mechanism.” Hallow said.

The first part of the second stanza also scored a direct hit right in the feels. “Why would you sacrifice, knowing you could die with nobody by your side,” Hallow sings. In an interview with Genius, Hallow brings into the spotlight a real issue that is happening today. “You’re taking a risk knowing that if you f*** up, nobody is going to be there to have you. It’s regular for some people,” Hallow said. “You get the feeling that you’re living, but everybody gotta go one day.”

The end of the second stanza talks about Hallow’s feelings towards new people and why he doesn’t want to make friends with some people. “I don’t really want friends, everybody fake don’t got trust,” sings Hallow. “Only the people that are closest to me, like [there has been] people I been rocking with, and nobody else.’” 

After the lyrics stop, the beat runs on for a while before ending on a low, and faint note that fades out of existence. With the smooth stop, the factors for why this song is my annual number one song grows by one.