Released: 2021
In Logic’s raw and unfiltered track “5 A.M.”, the Maryland native takes us on a lyrical journey through his painful past, his incredible resilience, and the social issues he passionately addresses. This introspective song is about Logic’s survival against the odds and his mission to spread love in an often antagonistic world.
Starting off, Logic vividly paints a picture of the gritty environment he grew up in with lines like “Brothers on the corner selling crack like it was nada though.” He’s bringing to light the normalization of drug dealing in impoverished areas. He also references the racial complexities of his upbringing with “Y’all see a white boy, but my daddy a negro,” acknowledging the prejudice he’s faced being biracial.
But rather than spreading hate, Logic is all about that love. “I just wanna spread love, they want me to bleed slow,” he spits, making it clear that his music is a vehicle for positivity and unity, and not just a platform to brag about violence or his wealth. But don’t get it twisted, he’s not afraid to clap back at his haters, as he assertively lets them know, “I heard you got a fucking problem, bitch, I bet I beast.”
Now, on to the hook: “They think it’s a game right now / But it ain’t the same right now, know my name right now / Back where I came from now / We gon’ live it up ’til we bring it back down.” This here is a statement of intent, a declaration of his grind and a call-to-action for those still stuck in the struggle he once knew.
In the second verse, Logic addresses his critics who question his success and challenges the repetitiveness in the game—shout out to Chance and Skizzy Mars as examples of artists who are also doing their thing authentically. Logic shows he’s about unity and respects the hustle, even if the mainstream is slow to catch on. “Fans know my lyrics deeper than the sea floor / But we dumb it down so they spin it on the radio,” he spits, a biting critique of the music industry’s often oversimplified portrayal of the craft.
Ending his verse with a powerful statement, “Racism all up in ’em, that shit is irrelevant / My flow is colorblind, rapping for the hell of it,” Logic asserts his belief in equality and passion for his craft. Reversing “Artanis” to spell Sinatra is a nod to his mentor Big Lenbo’s nickname for him—smooth like Frank Sinatra and enigmatic like Thelonious Monk.
More than a catchy track, “5 A.M.” is an anthem of resilience, a reflection of Logic’s journey from his difficult past to his hard-earned success. Despite the challenges, his message is clear: he’s all about spreading love, keeping it real, and above all — being relentlessly authentic.
