Eem Triplin’s fresh single, “a love song for u,” released on Valentine’s Day, is drawing comparisons to the early 2000s sound of artists like Kodak Black, according to The FADER. The 90-second track has been described as a “romantic bop” with a “dreamy and fuzzy” vocal style layered over a self-produced beat.
The song’s appeal, as noted by The FADER’s Kylah Williams, lies in its versatility, working equally well “whether you’re kissing your crush or hitting Dem Franchize Boyz’s ‘Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.’” This reference to the 2006 hit by Dem Franchize Boyz highlights a nostalgic element within Triplin’s new work.
Dem Franchize Boyz, an Atlanta-based hip-hop group, achieved mainstream success in 2006 with their album On Top of Our Game, which debuted at number one on the Top Rap Albums chart. The album featured the Platinum-certified single “Lean wit It, Rock wit It,” peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to this, their single “I Think They Like Me” reached the top 15 on the Hot 100, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The group’s debut album in 2004 did not achieve the same level of success, failing to enter the Top 100 of the Billboard 200.
The group released a third and final album, Our World, Our Way, in 2008, but it did not replicate the success of their previous work. Dem Franchize Boyz subsequently went on hiatus after being dropped from E1 Music, according to available discography information.
While Eem Triplin’s new song draws a connection to the sound of Dem Franchize Boyz, it arrives as part of a broader trend of artists revisiting and reimagining the musical landscape of the early 2000s. Triplin’s work, alongside releases from artists like Charli xcx and Labi Siffre, contributes to a diverse musical landscape currently highlighted by The FADER.
