Conscious hip-hop artist Deepwise turns a deeply personal experience into a reflection on boundaries, growth, and letting go with his latest single, “Keep on Dragging Me Down”, which arrived on September 18. Drawing from the challenges that can come with trying to move forward while dealing with resistance from those around you, the track transforms a difficult chapter into an honest and relatable piece of conscious hip-hop. This acts as the follow-up to his previous single release, titled “Slow Down”.
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Examining what happens when trying to support the people around you becomes a source of frustration, the track particularly focuses on when that support is not reciprocated, and others seem determined to prevent you from moving forward. Rather than dwelling on resentment, Deepwise uses the song to explore the importance of recognising what is holding you back and finding the freedom to move beyond it.
At the heart of “Keep on Dragging Me Down” is the familiar idea of a “crabs-in-a-bucket” mentality, where people attempting to escape difficult circumstances can find themselves pulled back by those around them. For Deepwise, that concept is closely connected to his own experiences of dealing with resistance and betrayal within his community, giving the track a personal foundation while leaving plenty of room for listeners to relate it to their own lives.
“‘Keep on Dragging Me Down’ is about how sometimes you try to help everyone, but people still try to pull you down and how I’ve navigated that in my own life,” says Deepwise. “As always, I tried to find an angle that would make the song relatable to anyone who has felt held back.”
That perspective gives the single a sense of progression rather than simply focusing on the people or situations that have caused difficulties. Deepwise ultimately turns his attention towards personal growth, establishing healthier boundaries, and understanding that moving forward can sometimes require leaving certain influences behind.
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Deepwise Brings Cloud Phonk Influences Into His Hip-Hop Sound
The musical foundation of “Keep on Dragging Me Down” grew from Deepwise’s longstanding interest in chill and cloud phonk. Artists and tastemakers including Ryan Celsius, Soudiere, DJ Yung Vamp, and DJ Smokey helped shape his appreciation for the hazy, atmospheric qualities associated with the style, providing an initial point of inspiration for the track.
As the song developed, however, Deepwise moved beyond simply recreating those influences. The finished recording combines that laid-back atmosphere with jazz-inspired instrumentation, creating a sound that feels reflective without losing its connection to his wider hip-hop identity.
The production gives Deepwise space to explore the subject matter through candid lyricism, with the contrast between its immersive sound and forward-looking perspective reinforcing the song’s central idea. There is a sense that looking back can be necessary to understand what has happened, but staying there is not the ultimate goal.
That genre-fluid approach is also reflective of Deepwise’s broader musical identity, which draws from different eras and styles of hip-hop while incorporating jazz, funk, and electronic influences.
A Fully Hands-On Creative Process
Deepwise’s involvement in “Keep on Dragging Me Down” extends across virtually every part of the finished recording. Alongside writing the song and its lyrics, he created the instrumental and handled its production, while also performing the piano and guitar parts himself.
The demos were recorded by Well Krafted Music, before Kyle Oueis mixed the track at Hideout Studio in Las Vegas. Two-time Platinum engineer Nate Middleman subsequently handled the mastering.
The result is a track that places Deepwise’s own creative vision firmly at its centre, allowing the personal subject matter and eclectic production to work together rather than fitting neatly into one genre.
Deepwise’s Positive Approach to Conscious Hip-Hop
“Keep on Dragging Me Down” arrives as another example of how Deepwise uses conscious hip-hop to explore ideas around self-development, empowerment, and navigating life’s more complicated experiences.
Based in Las Vegas after growing up in Salt Lake City, Deepwise comes from a musical family and developed his sound through a mixture of classic hip-hop influences and more experimental sounds. His musical foundations include artists such as 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., and OutKast, while his contemporary approach incorporates video-game-inspired synths, electronic psychedelia, jazz, and funk.
That combination allows Deepwise to connect elements of hip-hop’s past with a distinctly modern sound. His writing similarly balances more substantive themes, including self-actualisation and existential philosophy, with a playful and accessible approach.
With “Keep on Dragging Me Down”, those ideas come together around a particularly relatable experience: recognising when the people or circumstances around you are preventing you from becoming the person you want to be. Instead of allowing that frustration to define the song, Deepwise uses it as the starting point for a message about choosing yourself, establishing boundaries, and continuing to move forward.
“Keep on Dragging Me Down”, by Deepwise, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms.
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