‘U.S. Against The World Anthem’, Mvstermind’s new collaboration with composer Hannah Parrott, was released right in the midst of the recent FIFA World Cup, and was featured as the track on HBO Max’s five part documentary, ‘U.S. Against The World: Four Years With the Men’s National Soccer Team’.
An artist who places his musical independence first above all, St. Louis rapper Mvstermind was first linked with the project through the video for his single, ‘Square Up’, which featured many of the same editors and creative team for this new docuseries. When they returned looking for music for the feature, Mvstermind was the first one they thought of to help tell the story, and, writing through pressure, doubt, and preparation, he came up with the goods.
‘U.S. Against The World Anthem’ sees Hannah Parrott’s beat moving like film music; fluid and never growing stiff. Meanwhile, Mvstermind takes space to rap in bursts that are guarded, and locked in, as if he’s talking to himself as much as to the soccer fans. He starts, “I made my decisions, no revisions on this mission”, and then the song turns toward instinct, family, pain, scoring, and that private place every artist goes, even while everyone is watching. He raps, “When the pressure is on, I head to a zone that nobody likes to feel”, and then, when the hook hits, “Man it’s really US that’s against the world”, the song is now personal – it’s no longer about him, or the team, but the country as a whole.
While there’s no doubt the music video is about soccer, it doesn’t play like a tournament highlight reel; it has its own life. Mvstermind faces the camera, rapping straight into it like it owes him something and he wants payment. Polished yet real, the rich colours and sharp pacing don’t ever take away any of Mvstermind’s independence, but instead, draw focus to it, and celebrate it.
Mvstermind didn’t contribute just one track to the docuseries, but he also wrote ‘Strikers Shuffle’, ‘Brother Nem’, ‘Built Different’, and ‘Away’, ensuring that he was a vital thread throughout the whole show. And given that the show and ‘U.S. Against The World Anthem’ was played across the country, in bars, watch parties, and U.S. Soccer spaces during the FIFA World Cup, it’s certain that Mvstermind’s name will be one many people will remember for years to come.
Watch the stirring music video for ‘U.S. Against The World Anthem’ below, and find out more about Mvstermind and his music online on his official website, YouTube, and Instagram.
