68. Single Review of Forever by MCB Style

Originally Published November 27th, 2024

About the Artist

So, today is Wednesday, November 27th. It is the day before Thanksgiving. It happens to be the day before my 43rd birthday. I feel compelled to do a “Thanksgiving” themed review. Before proceeding, I want to put this disclaimer out here that I celebrate Thanksgiving as the holiday that it is today; families taking time from their busy lives to come together and be one. I do not celebrate or condone what it is derived from; the hostile takeover of the Indigenous who originally inhabited the land I call home. 
I am thankful for my family; my wife, my children, my dogs. I am thankful for a job I love, a home I feel at home in, and that I get to do Fifteen Minutes of Fame. November has given me two great opportunities now to reflect on Fifteen Minutes of Fame. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of reviewing an album by Seoul Metro, who I had heard from before I started writing reviews. Today, it is my privilege to write a review for an artist that I found from my very first campaign. The first messages we exchanged occurred on June 29th, which was the first day I announced the first campaign to review music. At the time, he didn’t have a qualified release that I could write about, but we’ve stayed in touch, checking in over the months. I am very thankful to learn that MCB Style has new music. 
Before we get to the song, let me tell you about MCB Style. He was born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts by his parents. He showed an interest in music early, influenced by his father who is also a singer. At the age of 9, he wrote his first song. His first published recording is a song called “Life,” which he released at the age of 12. Since that time, he’s released more than 20 songs as an independent artist.
MCB Style releases music that blends between R&B and Rap, often to themes of positivity and his relationship with God. His music is deeply rooted in his culture; blending traditional Haitian sound with contemporary pop R&B and Hip Hop. “I believe that music has the power to unite people across different backgrounds and my goal is to create tunes that resonate with everyone, no matter where you come from.” (Style) In addition to his musical performance, Style is also in pursuit of a career in acting. His music has not only reached people in his home town of Brockton and fans all across the US, but his music has touched people who follow him all the way to Jamaica, the Netherlands, and France.
About the Song

On November 22nd, MCB Style released his third single of 2024 on Spotify, Forever. With a run time of just under three minutes, it is a rap song featuring Style on vocals and accompanied by programmed beats, an organ, and horns with sampled vocals. It follows March’s release of Thank You God and February’s Timoun Yo (The Kids). 

About the Music

Forever is a rap song that features a vocal performance by MCB Style over a programmed organ part, programmed organ, sampled vocal part, and programmed beat. The overall vibe of the music is very positive and uplifting. I would say the music sounds peppy but it’s not really fast or upbeat. It is more of a relaxed uptempo. Definitely not a ballad or slow song. 

MCB Style has a particular flow that eases right into the instrumental accompaniment. He is rhythmically on point and his cadence is relaxed. 

I also listened to the version that Style released on YouTube, which is good but, in my opinion, doesn’t carry the same energy as the Spotify release. The Spotify track sounds more uplifting, whereas the YouTube mix has a darker feel to it. 

About the Lyrics

Lyrically, Forever is interesting because it embraces the feeling of youthful “immortality,” and emphasizes the thrill of being in the moment. So, “forever” is more like a euphemism for making the most out of our lives today. Creating memories that last forever.

“Under neon skies, we chase the night. Every heartbeat’s a spark, igniting our flight. The past is a shadow that fades with the dawn. We’re dancing on dreams as we’re moving along.” 

The first verse is a tribute to life. I particularly like the lyric “every heartbeat’s a spark, igniting our flight.” Taking literal context and converting it to a metaphorical experience in the same sentence. 

“Whispers of laughter dance through the air. With every pulse racing, this love is our flare. Well paint the skyline with colors so bright. In this endless journey under stars tonight.”

The second verse exhibits some of that same energy. I imagine this could have been a night hanging out with friends. A first date that went very well. Something like that. A wonderful memory.

“With every step closer, I feel the release. Letting go of the weight, finding my peace. No turning around; it’s all in the now. We’ve got this moment. Let’s make it our vow. So let your heart sing loud and free. We’re chasing horizon’s; it’s you and me. Embrace every moment as life spins around. The future’s unwritten; let’s turn up the sound. No chains to hold us. We’ll break every wall. Together forever, we can have it all. Like cement, because nobody can break us down!”

The chorus fits well with the overall energy and vibe of the song. “We’ve got this moment. Let’s make it our vow.” The song is a reminder of how incredible it felt to be coming into my own. It’s very much the sense I get with this song. This is the author’s intent. 

Final Thoughts

Spoiler alert: MCB Style is 15 years old. Just 15. So, in retrospect after listening to this song, I am getting the perspective of youth today, as well as a nostalgic feeling of when I felt the same feeling. I love that, even though he is so young, he seems to understand how finite our time is. His depiction of the beauty in every moment is resonating. That’s typically a realization that we tend to reflect on later in life. Not when we’re in the moment. It is only when the moment’s passed that we understand how precious it truly was. 

MCB Style ironically has so much time to perfect his craft. Having the talent he already possesses, having barely entered into his teenage years, he has so much potential. Yet, in so many ways, he is ahead of the curve. To be 15 years old and already self-producing, writing, and performing at such an advanced level. It may be the most impressive element to his release. He has shown that, it doesn’t matter what age an artist is. It matters that they’re putting passion into what they’re doing. Passion is an element that this artist does not lack. 

Months ago, I listened to MCB Style. I visited his Spotify page and I was pleasantly surprised by the talent that came through in his music. In that regard, nothing has changed. MCB Style is a talented artist. He is dynamic and diverse. He is positive and uplifting. He gets it. Now, because of that, so do I. 

You can catch MCB Style on all of his latest releases, news, and more by following him on Spotify, Instagram, and Threads. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to his YouTube Channel for exclusive drops and remixes!