“Fifteen Pennies” by Sam Lachow

With corona virus gripping the world, it feels like everybody has one eye fixed on health care and another on the economy. A lot of people are trying to make the most of a difficult situation, making a hustle to get some extra cash during uncertain times. It’s with this backdrop that Sam Lachow released “Fifteen Pennies,” which has him laying out the hustler’s mentality.

@samlachow’s verses are on point as he recounts some of the ways he would grind to put money in his pocket. Fifteen Pennies takes a classic hip-hop trope, and gives it a little twist. He’s not telling us about all the cash he has or all the wild things he’s done with it. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good money track, but this is refreshing. Lachow outright says he had money to spend when he was younger, but he doesn’t linger on that. He takes a turn describing how hard he worked to turn fifteen pennies into a dollar.

The @iamjakecrocker produced track itself is unique. It opens with a little bit of a Wild West feel, with an acoustic guitar strumming over the harmonious chorus where @camilarecchio and @elanwright describe America as a “jungle” where you can make something out of nothing. It really sets the stage for Lachow’s hustler’s anthem. The beat transitions into something cold and simple; a low bass bumps throughout the song while a set of bells (maybe a xylophone?I know not) dances over the top. The guitar comes back for the chorus as the bass and bells drop off.

For my money, this is #peakSam. He’s been releasing consistent heat, releasing four singles since the start of 2020, throwing us a little different look with each one. He says there’s an album on the way, and if there is, he’s doing a great job building anticipation.