Artist: Deneil, Bilal Holmes
Title: Take Aim
Length: 4:42
Genre: Rap, R&B, Experimental, UK Hip-Hop
Themes: War, Bravery, Fighting Against The Odds, Hopefulness, Courage, Pain, Inspiration & Destruction
Written By: Deneil Khan & Bilal Holmes
Produced By: Deneil
Label: Independent / Five Pesky Kids
From The Album: The New Heroes OST / E2
Take Aim is a song written and recorded by British rapper Deneil Khan alongside his elder brother, singer-songwriter Bilal Holmes (formerly known as Billy Khan). It is the second official release from Deneil as a lead artist, the first dating way back to 2015 which came in the form of the award-winning and chart-topping "Step It Up". Deneil has remained in the spotlight via appearing as a featured artist on many other hit records as well as producing and penning songs for other artists. His own solo material, however, has suffered many delays due to Deneil's reluctance of releasing material that he is not entirely happy with or that he can't commit to promoting. Being a perfectionist and a recluse, Deneil comes across many struggles when it comes to releasing his own music and being in the right mindset to promote his work and give it the attention it deserves. Take Aim was initially set to be included on his postponed debut album E2 as a solo track but after pitching it to 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate Films when in search of songs for The New Heroes soundtrack, they felt that the song was too "harsh" and needed an addition to take the edge off in order to give it a "mass appeal". Not a fan of sung choruses on a rap track, Deneil was initially reluctant to change the song. He intended to withdraw the song but after multiple emails with the production company of the film, Deneil was finally convinced and called in his older brother, Bilal. As the song is extremely personal, heavily referencing the area he grew up and still resides in, Deneil knew that the only way someone else would qualify as a feature would be if they could relate to and had lived through the lyrics as well. The original chorus was thrown out and Bilal penned and recorded his own one over the beat during just one casual session they held together over lunch at Deneil's home.
"Take Aim" is a song that really goes through the notions. Deneil starts off as a fresh-faced, nervous, unsure rap star and role model with the world watching and by the end of the song, he's risen to the occasion, accepted his responsibilities and is even willing to become a martyr for his craft and to spark change. The song focuses on a lot of the negative aspects of the grime community as well as the youths who live in London. Knife crime, murder, drug abuse, the whole gangster mentality is really poisoning the talented youths in Hackney and surrounding areas as they think that's the only way to live and the only way to prosper is to become the most feared. Deneil wants to put a stop to it. He found himself as the unintentional voice and role model. Becoming an unexpected breakout star across the globe, nobody in that area represents it like Deneil. Billy does too to some extent but he moved on and changed a huge bulk of his lifestyle. Deneil still lives in these streets. He is the embodiment and a product of this lifestyle and is the only person that people will take seriously when shedding light on the subjects. Each verse shows him growing more confident and gradually accepting his role as a leader and pioneer for change. The first verse touches on his uncertainty and how he feels like he's being forced to be role model without consent, saying things like he can't slow down, he can't take a vacation, he can't have a nice dream house with white picket fences and that he HAS to lead people to salvation. The second verse, he's now addressing a lot of the issues he sees in his community, getting pissed off with what it's becoming and is now stepping up and fighting back. The third verse, he is taking all the evil and negativity out simply by using his words and educating. He talks about metaphorically killing the poisonous aspects and will not stop until he sees complete change, so much so that he's willing to die for it so that people will finally wake up and realise that things have gone too far.
There's a juxtaposition between the delivery of both of the brothers. Deneil's usual, gruff and aggressive voice hammers the point across and shows just how pissed off and confused he is by it all. The harsh delivery and the rapid speed at certain points connote the barbaric goings on in his city, really bringing the violent sounds to life. Bilal, on the other hand, delivers a silky smooth chorus which is like honey to the ears. Despite still having dark lyrics, Bilal is far more soothing and is like the antidote to Deneil's venomous delivery. Bilal's vocals signify the "dream", the hope, the haven, the positive outcome that is on its way. Everything will eventually ease off and it will be smooth sailing, just like his dreamy delivery.
Deneil produced the entire song himself, like all of his own work. The initial solo version contained more or less the same production as the final mix we hear today but was "more punchy" according to Deneil, who said that the sharp and spiky electronic beats heard in the chorus were spread throughout the entire song and slightly amplified. For the final version featuring Bilal, everything is far more subtle and the heavenly British accents help carry the track along in a more blissful manner. While still somewhat "sharp" on the ears due to Deneil's delivery and the persistent percussion groove, it is by far the "smoothest" sounding song in Deneil's entire discography. With Bilal's ethereal vocals floating over the chorus, making great use of his falsetto and soft-spoken voice as well as Deneil slightly "toning it down" during many parts of the song and letting his voice float along with the subtle electronic beat then only "hammering" his lines when needed, it is clearly the most methodical the rapper has been when creating a song, having to meet a criteria rather than being off-the-cuff and unapologetic as usual. Deneil said that the song is "a little commercial" but still has [his] own personal stamp throughout. Had the song not been for the soundtrack, Deneil stated that he would have never considered approaching the song like this and working with Bilal, which he is extremely grateful for.
Know when it's a LDN crew thing
I'll be on the track fighting
Lyrical miracle, I ain't just rhyming
Man better listen up when Deneil's out hyping
On the road, laying up the white lightning
Take aim, t-take aim
Take aim, t-ta-take aim
Take aim, t-take aim
Take aim, t-ta-take aim
People acting like I'm a God soon as I broke through
Couldn't even find the man himself when I was religious too
Just a clown upon a pedestal, tempting the sharks in the pool
Everyone wants a piece when all I own is from an IOU
I guess I shed some light 'cause I'm bringing something new
Unofficial people's warrior when man don't even know what to do
Guess I gotta talk that talk, let my rapid fire cause that boom
Different spin on all this talk about who blows who
Can't take things slow, the life that I'm leading is a fast one
Born an example, if I could have white picket fences I'd have some
These mean streets are part of me and my presentation
Do you really think man never wants to clear his mind, take vacation?
Can't take it easy when this street urchin gotta lead you to salvation
Create a new classic, something legendary out of working with basics
Always making perfect pictures, don't care if others go trace it
Fell out the family tree to Earth just to grace it
I was never holy, just have to look at that face
It's written in the scars and it's burning through my veins
My story fills up the bad books, trouble all the way
One glance and people start picking up the pace
But when I'm your last hope, know that we'll die another day
I'll fight for all we have, always the first to take aimTake aim, t-take aim
Take aim, t-ta-take aim
Take aim, t-take aim
Take aim, t-ta-take aim
Young men are dropping down dead right around the corner
Girls struggling on their own popping that little pill in the morning
Doing what we can just to get by and feel at least ten times taller
But people go too far, abusing that hotline to the lawyer
We gotta love one another, ain't that what the good man says?
If I'm your closest thing to Christ then come break some bread
Tired of mandem betraying like Judas, always judging like Judy
Too quick to stab in the dark like it's their call of duty
Clear my throat and tap the mic, I'll fight you just to get peace
Ain't no powder or fists, it's these bars making that nose bleed
Settle the scores, stage is where we always draw the line
Though most youths be dirty, there they go whipping out a 9
This ain't a rap thing, this ain't a grime thing
This ain't a mic thing, a backstabber in the night thing
All the kids' backyards turning into crime scenes
Sick to the stomach of these jokers thinking they're some Don King
I was never holy, just have to look at that face
It's written in the scars and it's burning through my veins
My story fills up the bad books, trouble all the way
One glance and people start picking up the pace
But when I'm your last hope, know that we'll die another day
I'll fight for all we have, always the first to take aimTake aim, but it's words and knowledge I'm hurling ahead
Love the guns? Fam will soon find bullets lodged in the head
Live by it, die by it, isn't that what someone once said?
Lower the casket, now it's soil and roses all them are throwing
Last nail in the coffin but that won't stop your boy's words from flowing
Still ain't a pretty picture, ain't no sun and seashells around here
Still, you get to see your son and don't see shells around here
My scripture touches souls, been called a modern day poet
A bit rough around the edges but man still on that Edgar Allan Poe shit
If I gotta have a war of words over the scraps we have, so be it
No longer afraid to lead the battle, came too far to bite the dust
We gotta stand with our brother, I know these times are tough
We fight and sacrifice, I know that I can never give back enough
Folk are still sleeping, don't wanna wake and face this reality
Trynna make it better for them though mediocrity and insanity always challenge me
It's hard to explain this way of living to nobody who's ever lived it
I try to be the voice and holler out in the hope that somebody will listen
Hope that they understand what it's like to be in this position
Bet they count their lucky stars they aren't facing my opposition
Entered this life as little boy, ingrained, I can't turn away and quit
Fall into something vicious if I let go and let my visions slip
Make me the martyr and the wake up call, 'cause you know I'd die for it
I was never holy, just have to look at that face
It's written in the scars and it's burning through my veins
My story fills up the bad books, trouble all the way
One glance and people start picking up the pace
But when I'm your last hope, know that we'll die another day
I'll fight for all we have, always the first to take aimI'll fight you just to get peace
I'll fight you just to get peace tonight
Take aim, t-take aim
Take aim, t-ta-take aim
Take aim, t-take aim
Take aim, t-ta-take aim
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