Bei Maejor. It’s a name you know but not necessarily know. The Grammy nominated producer has kept a low profile up until now. However, he has plenty of production credits from Bun B to Trey Songz to Chrisette Michelle and tons more. On the flip side, he’s an amazing singer. He’s graced Plies “She Got It Made” hook and does his own music too.
This is where Upside Down comes in. It takes the concept from his secretive idea about putting his pictures upside down. While we’re on the subject of concepts, the first four records play a story but there’s a catch. “End Of The Night” is the slow, sweet first record but it’s the last part of the story. You have “Order What You Want”, which is the flossing, catchy and stuntin’ music you ride to when you in a balling mood. Donning a British accent and a sense of humor, “Barbershop Talk” leads you through the missing pieces of the story.
Putting the story first was a good choice because it attracts the listener easily. The only downside from it was the confusion it can play on someone. You definitely won’t fully understand the story in one listen, so you’ll end up re-listening closely. This isn’t too much of a bad thing, because the music is simply good.
Bei switches between his signature singing and a little bit of rapping throughout. “Gamez” is the perfect example because, not only is the lovely Keri Hilson on the hook singing with him, he’s also putting it down in the verses. The production, starring various familiar video game sounds, brings the record to another level. The clubs can enjoy this along with two other joints, “I’m On It” and “Drinks On Me”. The first features T-Pain on the hook while the latter has Trey Songz.
One of his accomplishments with Upside Down lies within “July”. A lovely Jhene Aiko and Drake accompany him on this sad record. Bei’s pregnancy story is sweet and really stands out compared to Drake’s regular verse. The sad sorrows don’t end there because “She Was” follows up. Despite its overall good feeling, the ending still ends in a sad lonely fashion. The ending words (“I may be jumping off the deep end but if your heart is open maybe I can creep in/she said that would be coo but I’m getting married next weekend”) are very common, in some ways, to hear in your life at least once.
Upside Down doesn’t end without some uplifting, thoughtful music. The ATLien gives his all into “Facelights and Waterfalls”. When you are chasing success, these types of records are necessary every now and then to serve as a venting session. It shows realness and emotion that leads to great music. In the end, Upside Down is going to go down in history as a future classic.
Download Here
