When it comes to your first love and balancing out the rest of life, it often feels like you have to steal away moments with "her" (or "him") instead of truly living in said moments. As the final single of 'The Late Bloomer' series and the third consecutive song with a figurative feminine presence, "The Mistress" unpacks the difficulty of allowing symbolic and actual others to co-exist with my muse as well as prove how it is an insult to her character and importance in my life to reduce her presence to a mere "side piece".
lyrics
(Intro)
Truth be told
(Married Mrs. G, but this —-- is my mistress)
Probably could've pursued you a little harder
(Baby, don’t be mad ‘cause your husband bout to make it)
But I just kept putting others ahead of you...maybe out of fear
(Married Mrs. G., but this ----- is my mistress) that what we'd have
Would be too powerful
(Baby, don't be mad)
(Verse 1)
Maybe in another life, she would be my spouse
Or raise a bunch of children shouting, stomping through the house
Or moving Cubans past customs, but we never smoke
Frequent flyer miles run out, then we get in boats
Rainy days, most are laid up in a bed, Hulu Plus, Netflix
But with us, it's more turn ons, warm ups, licks
Press buttons, moaning through the night
In her mind, she like, "Only Joe can do it right"
But reality is rabid with the cruelest bite, such a foolish life
‘Cause at a tender age, I was made to choose a wife
One to keep my stomach fed, head dry, body draped
Safe girls raise the kids, fast chicks party late
But she wasn't just another side piece
Not a saint or high priest, but she's MY peace
Though I chose other women for the top spots
All the love I've ever had for her, it will not stop
(Chorus)
Unh, this is deeper than a crush
The bond that we share merely deepens with a touch
This is love, I could try to ignore it
I answer when she calls, won't apologize for it
‘Cause with her, it's much more than desire
Whenever she's around, I'm alive and inspired
So I don't feel a bit of guilt from her kisses
My first real love, she ain't never been the mistress
(Verse 2)
Peep the conundrum: everyone will act like they support it
Will even buy gifts for housewarmings and reward it
But when I tell 'em, "Hey, we're in our ecstatic throes"
They take it as a sign to tell me what I had to know
Taking ten minutes too long, now the mood's gone
Gotta relight the incense, play a new song
So we get obscure, inaccessible to all
As she begs, "Please let 'em leave a message if they call"
Any woman in my life is no different from the rest
They're jealous of the time that I spend and caress
Her curvaceous tones, knowing she's my first love
Wishing that the same passion they could get a burst of
New shoes, nail polish, may not even notice
Because she often comes around at inconvenient moments like
Snow days, family time, even at the ER
I find myself fighting with a bad case of PR
“Babe, she's a free spirit, it's hard to tell her 'no'
'Cause when I do, I get afraid that she'll forever go
Into the arms of another
She tries her humble best to be as harmless of a lover
But she was here first (here first) before the girls looked twice
Didn't check for my bravado or the sneakers looking nice”
But they hear Eddie & Walter on a scratchy 45
Your body's here with me, but she's the one that's on your mind
(Chorus)
Unh, this is deeper than a crush
The bond that we share merely deepens with a touch
This is love, I could try to ignore it
I answer when she calls, won't apologize for it
‘Cause with her, it's much more than desire
Whenever she's around, I'm alive and inspired
So I don't feel a bit of guilt from her kisses
My first real love, she ain't never been the mistress
credits
released March 2, 2023
Lyrics by Joseph Lawrence Goings (BAMMpire Publishing [ASCAP]), Curtis Reese.
Music by Joseph Lawrence Goings (BAMMpire Publishing [ASCAP]) & Keith Delts.
Produced by A.J. Throwback for The BAMMpire.
Scratches & additional production by Gladiator.
Recorded by Gladiator in Suitland, Maryland. Mixed & mastered by Gladiator in Waldorf, Maryland.
Contains interpolations of "King of the Jungle" as performed by Prodigal featuring Sly Dee & A.J. Throwback. Contains a sample from "Hold It Now, Hit It" as performed by Beastie Boys.
D.C.-born artist A.J. Throwback has produced for The Healacist, Ransom Rellic, Klutch Da Rapper, BRIXX, DH MVJOR, Lady Cee,
Debo Wayne, Mic Mountain, Anaymous Touch & Night Train 357. He has released two mixtapes, two beat tapes, two EPs, and was creator, DJ & co-host w/ Ramsey Brown of 'BARS'. In 2024, he released two R&B instrumental singles, "Something New" & "Fluent in My Language"....more
Let The Dirt Say Amen (aka Tim Hicks from The Cornel West Theory) is EASILY one of my favorite hip hop artists from D.C. and this is evidence--not to mention it should be in the AOTY convo for 2021. A.J. Throwback
Another one of the most talented lyricists from D.C., the amount of thought, purpose and artistry Prowess the Testament puts behind this album is unmatched. She's simply rapping on another level. A.J. Throwback
The combo of Nathaniel Star on vocals and Vintage (on 90 percent of the production) is FLAWLESS. Simply put, this is my favorite R&B/soul album from any artist in the last decade. A.J. Throwback
A wild and dizzying LP themed around the power of the number 23, “Ikosa Trio” leaps from vaporware to hip-hop to all stops in between. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 11, 2023
