British soul group Loose Ends’ “You Can’t Stop the Rain” is a perennial sample: Shaq plugged it into multiple versions, Payroll Giovanni and Helluva used it, and Max B turned the chorus into “You can’t stop Byrdgang.” We can thank BMF, the latest series in the 50 Cent executive produced drug dealing universe, for reviving the 1985 track. In the defining moment of the show’s first season, the supervillain Lamar commits a brutal backstabbing murder while gently singing Loose Ends’ R&B single.
Since then, a new generation has become infatuated with the song, and Maryland’s YungManny puts such a fun spin on it that I don’t mind its transparently viral nature. Using the DMV-based flow that he has been experimenting with since he was a 15-year-old making noise on YouTube with Xanman, Manny sprinkles the song with silly moments that stick in your mind. On the back half, his voice creaks, “Who the fuck let all these niggas in my fuckin party?!/Oh that’s gang and ’em, ya’ll was ’bout to get me started,” before doing a karaoke sing along to the timeless hook.
With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace, it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear.
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from YungManny and more on our Spotify playlist.
