Released: 2014
‘Under Pressure’ by Logic– this ain’t just a song, it’s a whole narrative from the streets. The artist drops bars about his graft, his grind, and his journey from Section 8 housing to stardom, with a dose of the inner turmoils he’s experienced along the way. The backdrop of this rap is real-life struggles, ongoing pressures, and raw human emotions presented in a poetic and unfiltered manner. It’s like a trip down memory lane and a peek into the future, all framed within the raw reality of the present.
The track begins and ends with the hook, a direct insight into Logic’s dread of an early death due to his relentless work ethic, as well as hinting at the pressure of fame and success. He’s getting hounded for his wealth, but he’s got no time for that, only ‘the dial tone’ is all he’s willing to share. The diamond-filled chain is a symbol of his progress, but also a heavy reminder of the pressure under which these ‘milestones’ were achieved.
The first verse reveals Logic’s turbulent past, sippin’ on ‘purple Kool Aid’ or sizzurp, a codeine-filled brew popular in the underworld. He’s got no love for the law, and he’s had to hustle his way up, embracing an outlaw lifestyle. The lyric ‘Bumping Triple Six’ is a shout-out to Three 6 Mafia, a nod to Logic’s early influences in his rap career.
He throws shade at those who assume his success was overnight by emphasizing the process behind it–the writing, the recording, the mixing, the mastering, and only then the unveiling. He’s spitting flames at this point, essentially saying his determination and grind can’t be matched. The self-reverence in ‘I’m the king, ain’t no discussion’ reinforces this sentiment.
As we roll into the second verse, we get insight into the double-edged sword of fame. He admits being ‘blessed up’, but he’s got stress building up that could ultimately wreck him. He goes into his current lifestyle–the fancy Benz, the exclusive Black Card– and deals with it with the reality of his past life, bringing in a clear view of his transformation.
The third verse is where Logic gets introspective and emotionally charged. He talks about his fears, self-doubt, and the loneliness that’s come from his success. His lyrics see-saw between the highs of fame and the lows of his personal struggles. He underlines his authenticity, making it clear he’s ‘known for Logic, not through affiliations’
.And then Logic bares his soul in a series of super personal back-and-forth voicemails between him, his sister, and his father, which is pretty rare in the rap game. His sister expresses feelings of isolation and past trauma while his father seems to want a deeper connection despite the past issues. Logic shows us the chaos beneath his calm exterior, definitely holding nothing back.
In the penultimate verse, Logic returns to talk about his complicated relationship with his family and the struggle to juggle fame, family, and his passion for music. In the final verse, he acknowledges the pressures from his family’s expectations, but at the same time, he’s unwilling to sacrifice the love for his craft, despite the pain it brings.
To sum up, ‘Under Pressure’ stands as a stark reflection of Logic’s battles with success, the strain of his relationships, his hardscrabble past and life’s pressures. It’s a snapshot of the man behind the fame, the pitfalls of success, and the struggles of a man caught in the crossfire of his past and his future.
