Listen up, heads. The game just got a shot of pure, unadulterated street wisdom, straight outta the heart of the Midwest, Cincinnati, Ohio. We’re talking about G. Franklin, the man who cut his teeth up in Alaska, repping that 907 before bringing that Substantial Mind Music flow down to the 513. If you’ve been fiending for that real talk over a beat that knocks without yelling, then sit back, relax, and listen to “The Calmest.”
G. Franklin is the real deal, a product of a musically rich upbringing where gospel and funk were the soundtrack, but it was the undeniable magnetism of Snoop Dogg on an early morning MTV viewing that hooked him for life. You can hear that lineage in his sound, a style that clearly draws deep from the well of legends like Biggie—whose impeccable flow Franklin openly admires—and Tupac. His music is a true school blend, honoring the pioneers while blazing a trail of his own. This is a dude who knows the value of the marathon, not the sprint. His back catalog, from the 2018 “Fnsb” track that shouted out his Fairbanks, North Star Borough roots and the grit of the 49th state, to the contemplative vibe of “Don’t Know When,” proves he’s been on his grind, evolving his narrative with every drop.
“The Calmest” is G. Franklin’s latest offering, a single that came from a deeply personal place. After a year-long hiatus from the booth, a period of quiet struggle and self-re-evaluation, the inspiration hit, a burst of self-motivation born from life’s turbulence. He had to get his lyrical repetitions in even when distractions were hitting from all sides. That real-life struggle is the fuel for this track, a track that embodies the idea of being focused on the mission with soul stirring discipline. The beat is a slick, rolling groove with a subtle intensity, a perfect carpet for his smooth-yet-assertive delivery. You feel the confidence as he talks that Stephan Curry winning talk, always looking to cook up and hook the bag, never stressed or worried. It’s the sound of a champion in his prime, moving with effortless grace, eyes always open to the snakes in the grass.
His lyrical dexterity is also on full display here. He’s not here to shout. He’s here to make you listen closely. He drops gems about staying in the driver’s seat of your own life, moving past the constant attempts to box you in that every true artist faces. He wants listeners to feel like they’re getting something worth holding on to and coming back for, a voice that can articulate the chaos and the come-up. It’s that classic hip hop message – turning pain and perspective into power.
Where tracks like “Fnsb” had you feeling the cold hustle through the Alaskan snow thaw and navigating the dangers and complexities of the streets, and “Don’t Know When” dealt with the confusing boundary between physical attraction and deep emotion, “The Calmest” is the sound of an MC who’s finally found his peace in the eye of the storm. He’s putting on for the world, telling the haters—the ones who can’t deny his shine—that he’s not for the weak. He’s keeping it clean, butter crisp, all while riding a smooth flow that never runs pale.
This record is an instant classic in the making, proving that you don’t have to raise your voice to raise the bar. G. Franklin is poised for a major moment, serving up a steak and shrimp vibe that’s a welcome meal in a game often choked with fast food. If “The Calmest” is just the warm-up, then his upcoming December single, “What She Wants,” promises to keep the flame burning bright. Don’t sleep on this man’s movement—he’s got the master plan and the lyrical skill to back it up.