Stream: Saiah, ‘(BLACK) PLANET’

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Saiah

How might one capsulize social injustice and Gen Z’s self-confidence in a single lyric? Ask Saiah.

“I love myself so much / My skin makes cops go nuts,” he sings on his latest track “(BLACK) PLANET.”

Now based in Arizona, the 22-year-old grew up in Pennsylvania. He and his family moved out west when he was in high school. However, upon the decision to fully pursue music, Saiah returned to his native Pittsburgh for some experimentation. Back in the desert, Saiah signed with No Name Records for his debut, “Loverboyraceway Lostboy.”

Over the weekend, Saiah dropped the accompanying “(BLACK) PLANET” video. The song itself sees Saiah wade into pop-leaning territory, a departure from the generally emo rap of his previous releases, “Polaroid” and “Heart (Break).”

The Overcast-produced video, directed by Daniel Jordan K, is a sweet salute to the end of summer. Saiah dances around a diner, milkshake in hand, with cuts of him and his friends frolicking around a desert road at golden hour. Even when a pair of cops chase Saiah and crew, things always feel light. This is likely due to the breezy, looping assurance of “I’m gonna be all right,” harmonized with song co-writer Plantedherb.

This year’s string of releases precedes Saiah’s sophomore EP “Honest Red,” out later this fall.

||| Watch: The video for “(BLACK) PLANET”

||| Also: Stream “(HEART) BREAK” and “Polaroid”