Maribased1 – ‘Thee End’ 

We’ve written about Maribased1 a number of times now, and never fail to be amazed by the quality of his flow, and the quick wit of his mind that allows him to switch between styles and rhythm in the blink of an eye. On the one hand he can write a club banger, while on the other he can come up with a sweet and soulful tribute to strong, and independent women. Citing his style as “Northern Flow”, this artist from the Pacific Northwest knows exactly how to make himself stand out, and it’s meant that he’s found a home for his indie music on he likes of BET Jams, and MTV OnDemand, with his singles, ‘Bouncin’, and, ‘Score’n’, as well as his most recent release, ‘Mystery Girl’.

Latest single, ‘Thee End’, takes a journey through fresh territory for Maribased1, with lyrics that shine a little brightness on the dark night of fear and sadness we all go through from time to time. He shifts his focus in his new single, with the very real pain and heartbreak of having experienced the loss of a loved one evident in every note. Maribased1 shares the motivation behind his music career isn’t just about making money; it’s to lift his family up as well as himself, and give them a better life too:

“Put my family on a lake / Nice view to that bitch / Jet skis with the wakes / Riding foreign cars / Big house, big acres, double doors.”

Fellow Seattle-ite, D Menace, adds his piece to the track, dropping into the New Age style trap groove, cutting some rhymes in the second verse. Both artists pay homage to those who have departed, while showing respect to their families, and the determination and hustle that they both share.

The clip, directed by Rob Fitzgerald, sees the pair wandering around their neighbourhood, with clips from a Maribased1 live show interspersed within. The heart-felt lyrics are heightened with the use of grainy, VHS effects, while other filters, such as rotoscope, recall Maribased1’s previous videos. The song and video are of two parts; sombre and celebratory – but the contrast isn’t jarring, and in fact, it feels like a perfect match.

Watch the video for ‘Thee End’ below. You can check out Maribased1 online on his Twitter account.