Hope

Album

Single

Label

Capitol Records

Genre

New wave

Composer(s)

Tommee Profitt;NF

Entered Chart

Mar 4, 2023

Peak Date

Mar 4, 2023

Released

February 16, 2023

Recorded

Unknown

Ever since the release of his debut album, Mansion, NF has been on a deeply personal and emotional journey. His aggressive flow has delved into themes of mental health, self-doubt, and faith. Often seen wearing all-black, he has been candid about his own battles with depression, anxiety, and OCD. With his sixth studio album, Hope, NF ushers in a fresh message to his artistry, one that centers on the themes of closure, forgiveness, and new beginnings. The album's title track embodies this message, offering listeners a glimmer of light and a sense of embarking on a new chapter. The rapper, born Nate Feuerstein, starts off the song by introducing the message of hope. Over twinkling piano, he talks of how after 30 years of stagnation (he celebrated his 30th birthday in March 2021) he's now on the way. Hope Yeah, I'm on my way, I'm comin' Don't Don't lose faith in me NF's 2019 single "The Search" saw him looking for "the map to hope," and this song suggests that he's on his way to finding it. The accompanying music video appears to confirm this, as we see him wandering around a coastal landscape, examining a map. At the 2:22 mark, we see NF standing next to a representation of his dark side, holding the same map that was referenced in "The Search." In the first verse, NF delivers a breakdown of what success truly means to him. It has nothing to do with how much money he makes. Instead, he encourages listeners to follow their hearts, stand up for what's right, be creative and brave enough to dream big, and work tirelessly until success is achieved. It's a departure from the Michigan rapper's usual somber themes of despair and hopelessness; rather he fills his bars with encouragement, hopefulness, and happiness. In NF's 2018 single "WHY," he posed a similar question at the beginning of the first verse: Yeah, what's your definition of success? At the end of the first verse, NF alludes to some of the tough challenges he has faced in his life. I spent years of my life holdin' on to things I never should've kept, full of hatred Years of my life carryin' a lot of baggage that I should've walked away from These challenges include being abused as a child by his mother's boyfriend and losing his mom to a drug overdose in 2009. Because of this, NF did not act or think in a way that aligned with his beliefs, but still maintained his faith throughout his journey. This steadfast commitment to his belief system ultimately played a significant role in his current success, as it is intertwined with his overall personal growth and development. In August 2021, NF became a father when his son arrived in this world. In the second verse of his song, he shares how becoming a parent has shifted his perspective on life. Wake up every day and pick my son up Hold him in my arms and let him know he's loved NF is now dedicated to being a positive role model for his son. He is determined not to repeat the mistakes of his own parents who neglected their responsibilities. NF had been hesitant to forgive his mother for his difficult childhood. In the outro, he boldly expresses a new sense of hope. Don't get it twisted, that wasn't a shot Mama, I forgive you Along with hope, closure is also a significant theme in this song. The Patrick Tohill-directed music video portrays a conflict between NF's hopeful and dark personality traits. The clip showcases this internal struggle by depicting two versions of rapper: one dressed in black, representing his dark side, Fear, and the other dressed in white, representing his bright side, Hope. NF co-produced "Hope" with his go-to production partner Jeff Sojka, along with Tommee Profitt and Patrick Tohill. Sojka's resumé also includes collaborations with Crowder ("Good God Almighty") and Anne Wilson ("Sunday Sermons"). Tohill, who is known more as a director than musician, is NF's regular visual collaborator.

Hope
I'm on my way, I'm coming
Don't, don't lose faith in me
I know you've been waitin'
I know you've been prayin' for my soul
Hope, hope

Thirty years you been draggin' your feet
Tellin' me I'm the reason we're stagnant
Thirty years you've been claimin' you're honest
And promising progress, but where's it at?
I don't want you to feel like a failure (failure)
I know this hurts (hurts)
But I gave you your chance to deliver (deliver)
Now it's my turn
Don't get me wrong, Nate, you've had a great run
But it's time to give the people somethin' different
So without further ado, I'd
Like to introduce my
(My album, my album, my album, my album, my album, my album, my album)
Hope
What's my definition of success? (Success)
Listening to what your heart says (the heart says)
Standing up for what you know is (is)
Right, while everybody else is (is)
Tucking their tail between their legs (okay)
What's my definition of success? (Success)
Creating something no one else can (else can)
Bein' brave enough to dream big (big)
Grindin' when you're told to just quit (quit)
Givin' more when you got nothin' left (left)
It's a person that'll take a chance on
Somethin' they were told could never happen
It's a person that can see the bright side through the dark times when there ain't one
It's when someone who ain't never had nothin'
Ain't afraid to walk away from more profit
'Cause they'd rather do somethin' that they really love and take the paycut
It's a person that would never waiver
Or change who they are
Just to try and gain some credibility
So they could feel accepted by a stranger
It's a person that can take the failures in their life and turn them into motivation
It's believing in yourself when no one else does, it's amazing

What a little bit of faith can do if you don't even believe in you
Why would you think or expect anybody else that's around you to?
I done did things that I regret
I done said things I can't take back
Was a lost soul at a cross road who had no hope but I changed that
I spent years of my life holdin' on to things I never should've kept, full of hatred
Years of my life carryin' a lot of baggage that I should've walked away from
Years of my life wishin' I was someone different, lookin' for some validation
Years of my life tryna fill the void, pretending I was in
They get it

Growing pain's a necessary evil
Difficult to go through, yes, but beneficial
Some would say having a mental breakdown is a negative thing which on one hand I agree with
On the other hand, it was the push I needed to get help and start the healing process, see
If I'd have never hit rock bottom
Would I be the person that I am today?
I don't believe so
I'm a prime example of what happens when you choose to not accept defeat and face your demons
Took me thirty years to realize that if you want to get the opportunity
To be the greatest version of yourself
Sometimes you got to be someone you're not to hear the voice of reason
Having kids will make you really take a step back and look in the mirror
At least for me that's what it did, I

Wake up every day and pick my son up, hold him in my arms
And let him know he's loved (loved)
Standing by the window questioning if dad is ever going to show up (up)
Isn't something he's goin' to have to worry about
Don't get it twisted, that wasn't a shot
Mama, I forgive you
I just don't want him to grow up thinkin' that he'll never be enough (enough)
Thirty years of running, thirty years of searching
Thirty years of hurting, thirty years of pain
Thirty years of fearful, thirty years of anger
Thirty years of empty, thirty years of shame
Thirty years of broken, thirty years of anguish
Thirty years of hopeless, thirty years of (hey)
Thirty years of never, thirty years of maybe
Thirty years of later, thirty years of fake
Thirty years of hollow, thirty years of sorrow
Thirty years of darkness, thirty years of (Nate)
Thirty years of baggage, thirty years of sadness
Thirty years of stagnant, thirty years of chains
Thirty years of anxious, thirty years of suffering
Thirty years of torment, thirty years of (wait)
Thirty years of bitter, thirty years of lonely
Thirty years of pushing everyone away
(You'll never evolve) I know I can change
(We are not enough) we are not the same
(You don't have the heart) you don't have the strength
(You don't have the will) you don't have the faith
(You'll never be loved) you'll never be safe
(Might as well give up) not running away
(You don't have the guts) you're the one afraid
I'm the one in charge
I'm taking the (no)
I'm taking the
Reigns