By Jose Mujica
August 18, 2019
Charlotte’s own singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, and renaissance artist, Greg Cox is back and this time he’s brought the choir with him. Since his latest solo project, ETC. dropped late last year, Cox hasn’t slowed down. ETC. not only turned heads and ears, but culminated in an invitation to collaborate with the iconic Kirk Franklin on the song “Strong God” for Franklin’s album Long Live Love. A co-sign from such an enormous figure has clearly encouraged and strengthened Cox’s resolve and it’s evident in his latest single, “Good Day,” an inspirational anthem that breathes love, life and positivity.
A sure-fire cure for those sluggish Monday mornings when you may seem to be simply going through the motions, “Good Day” rejuvenates the spirit to face the day. Starting off the track, Cox proclaims that he can feel it in the air. This energy he captures isn’t something created and crafted solely by Cox, but rather it embodies the omnipresent social frequencies to which we all contribute and pull from. As an expert in interpreting spiritual vibes, Cox announces that it’s going to be a good day while the beat builds in a grandiose progression that can only be attributed to his gospel influences.
The opening bars in the first verse set the tone for the rest of the song: “Wake up, wake up now, wake up now. Put that cold water on ya face/ It’s time to put those naysayers in their place.” Cox challenges his audience to snap out of the auto-pilot drudgery and rise up to the daily grind with vigor and tenacity. His confidence and determination are on full display; it’s stylistically framed with a modern rap delivery that plays with tonal shifts and melodies that imbue the bars with a distinct character carrying the message directly into listeners’ hearts and minds.
In a genre known for its hyper-realistic depictions of gritty and grim oppression, where nihilism and hedonism seem to be the standard philosophies driving typical hip-hop artists, it can be difficult to market music preaching positivity and hope. As we’ve seen in 2019, it can be even more difficult to make that wholesome music without being relentlessly lampooned for being saccharine and clinically clean, but Greg Cox makes it work on this track. Flexing less about material possessions, he boasts more about achievements gained through struggle and finding support in the community.
Listen to the single and watch the video for “Good Day” featuring Shay, and follow Greg Cox on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Read next:
