Featured vocalist, Wreckno, opens GRiZ‘s latest with a confident verse: “smiling cause I’m young, rich, gay, and I’m handsome.” The interpolation of Anderson .Paak and YBN Cordae’s “RNP” sets the tone for “Medusa,” a high energy self-proclaimed queer anthem that blends rap with nasty dubstep-inspired drops. For Wreckno, it’s not only a powerful statement of self but also a sonic dream realized:
“‘Medusa’ means everything to me! Not only is it my gayest most incredible queer dream team collaboration come true, but it packs a punch with an empowering and sassy message. I grew up in the woods of northern Michigan, four hours north of Detroit. We would drive eight hours in a night, round trip sometimes, just to go and catch a GRiZ show.
I’ve always admired his artistry and have been a stan for a long time, so when he reached out to work on this song it truly was my dreams coming true. His shows were like a funky rainbow escape from the grey cloud that I usually felt over my world.”
“Medusa” continues an exceptionally hot year for GRiZ. The sax-slinging DJ opened his 2020 account with his Night Bass debut, the ultra funky “Could U.” The fifth installation in GRiZ’s Bangers.Zip EP series closely followed, as well as his collaboration with ProbCause, “Solo.” If his steady release of heaters isn’t enough to satiate, GRiZ has also been behind the decks plenty performing at several live streams throughout quarantine.
Featured image: Gabriella Grimes