P-Pop star Josh Cullen and
prolific rapper Al James come together in “Yoko Na,” their
collaborative new single released under Sony Music Entertainment.
Lyrics-wise, “Yoko Na” expresses the words left
unsaid in the middle of a relationship fallout. It acknowledges how a kind of
love that was once full of life and promises could suddenly fall apart even
after trying one’s best to stick it out until the very end.
The song bears the hallmarks of a summer
anthem, thanks to its infectious rap verses from both artists, an inescapable
chorus, and a vibrant arrangement that blends modern hip-hop and R&B
sensibilities with emotional flair.
Brian Lotho, who co-produced the track
with Josh, captures the essence of the lyrics with steely defiance, adding an
extra layer of authenticity by injecting unique elements such as the sound of
bottles shattering, tables flipping, and other little sonic details that evoke
irreparable brokenness.
“Well, Yoko Na is like the
product of a soul-baring session with my producer, Brian Lotho,” Josh Cullen
explains. “For this particular jam, we traded cliched love stories with messy,
real-life situations that ordinary people encounter on a daily basis: the
frustrations and struggles from past relationships, and somehow confronted it
with a more mature take. It's a song that's raw, honest, and straight from the
heart.”
The partnership came to fruition after
realizing that Al James’ style of laid-back rapping somehow fits the demo that
Brian and Josh have been working on for months. Josh admits that he mustered
the courage to ask the viral hitmaker to be part of the track despite the short
notice. Luckily, Al James said yes and sent his verse a few days ahead of the
deadline.
When asked about how Al James is as a
collaborator, he said nothing but praise for the Pa-umaga act.
“He’s very chill. He submitted the
reworked track ahead of time and recorded his parts in less than an hour. I
really admire his level of professionalism. After that, we just bonded
instantly and went on a food trip.”
Josh Cullen and Al James’ “Yoko Na” is out now on all digital
music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.
