Review by Ester Mirembe
Grip(3:19) A Barna Birungi Song
I first listened to Barna during a youth camp back when he had just released “I’m a Christian”. The emcee, trying to crack a joke, introduced him as the Ugandan Lecrae. Truthfully, I was impressed and I wondered where he had been all along.
A few more songs down the road, and I must admit he has come a long way and he is still going places. It’s just what God does for his people. He blesses the work of their hands.
The topic, though, is not Barna’s journey but rather his latest song; Grip.
As much as I appreciate his rapping prowess, I’m not sure I can say Grip is the kind of song anyone can listen to and immediately decipher what he is going on about. Maybe that’s what hip hop is about. I don’t know, I’m not into the study of urban music. But I like to think that, usually, it’s the ‘feel good’ music where one does not need to figure out what’s being sung. And it does make for an awesome feel good song. It’s the kind of song you can listen to when you want to have some good vibes, good sound, a song you can bob your head to.
I digress.
Audio:
Once you have listened to the song a couple of times (preferably in succession), the song has quite a strong good message. I have listened to the song more times than I can count, passively before I had to write this review and actively quite recently, but I doubt I can clearly say what it’s about. I mean, the hook does give some insight but everything thereafter is a blur.
As expected of Barna, the production of the song is flawless. I recommend Barna’s producer, whoever she/he is. They always do a good job with the funky beats and a great deal of thought in the sound. It’s always refreshing to know that a song is not a rip off. Whatever Barna does with the production, he has been getting right. He definitely got it right on Grip.
This song also got me wondering whether ‘Christian artistes’ (used very loosely and cautiously) have target audiences. Do they? A passing thought. Because if they do, this song is for the head-bobbing audience of which I am a part.
Anyway, Barna has definitely done better before. I expected better. But for long days, the song will definitely stay on my playlist.
Sent from my iPhone
Grip lyrics(Barna)I heard’m say so many thingsI know they called you ugly oneI heard’m say I ain’t good enoughI know they say I can’t measure upVerse1Looking for all approval/ your hurting there words are brutal /your burning you wanna do for the glory of the father on your way you wanna give up /the people they keep on talking /they wanna grab your attentionput your mind under under detentionand there words are in the middle battle of the brain it’s a tussle/God save me my pillow wet am hurting in/ I hate acidic words they keep on coming in am crediting God debit them heal my wounds inside of me/the enemy gat a lie in a gift I don’t wanna ever open itPeople saying, death tell them I don’t wanna listen Incoz everybody has a copy’of opinion right/ ever wondered what the king of kings’ opinion is, you better grab a hold of itChorusI heard’m say so many thingsI know they called you ugly oneI heard’m say I ain’t good enoughI know they say I can’t measure upI don’t care what people sayAma grip on what he says IamHook (Grab a hold of it)I don’t care what the people say, ama grip on what he says IamVerse 2Some people gon say your too shortAhh Dain’t matterOther people go’n say your to tallAwhhh dain’t matterOther people will say your too smallAwhhh dain’t matterOther people will say your too darkDain’t matterCoz they don’t really know about black beauty your pure African beautiful girl your naturalLike Steph, God carry me to another higher level wanna keep in mind all the fear and the wonder in your palms when you made man out of mud and the melodies of art amIn awe of this/ realize Aki and Popo could ever visualize that there size doesn’t matter so they stuck and hit the rise/for a better view, you gatta use the lense of Christ[Chorus]Hook(Grab a hold of itDain’t matterAma grip on what he says IamComposed and written by BarnaProduced by Gamit aka Joe beats
Ug Gospel Life 
This song by barna is so so good, the vibes. The sound and the lyrics are all good …..I listen to this song over and over again ……. Great work by barna, and also great work by Gamit the producer
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