Werkin

"Werkin" (also written "Werkin'") is a rap song by American rapper OsamaSon, from his 2023 mixtape Osama Season. It was produced by Wise and Lukeveretti. Pitchfork made it a "The Ones" pick, its daily recommendation of a rap song, on August 3, 2023. The Fader also discussed the song in an October 2023 roundup of the year's rap projects.

Background

Osama Season is a short project of about 22 minutes. Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork called it OsamaSon's "new tape" and said it owes more to Chief Keef than to Playboi Carti. Vivian Medithi of The Fader included it among four of the year's best rap projects. She noted that OsamaSon had been dismissed as another Opium soundalike, but wrote that the tape builds a style of "maximalist rage" of his own.

Composition

Pierre described OsamaSon's flow on "Werkin" as choppy and singsongy. He said anyone familiar with Chief Keef's album Finally Rich would recognize it, though OsamaSon's version is sillier and less ominous. As an example of the humor, Pierre pointed to the line "Your crew full of virgins".

Pierre called the beat by Wise and Lukeveretti cluttered, and said it was one of the best on Osama Season.

Medithi wrote that "Werkin" sounds restrained next to the rest of the tape, which she described as far more distorted. She said that when the beat drops out and OsamaSon carries the melody alone in Auto-Tune, the song's more traditional plugg sound feels fresh.

Reception

Pierre opened his write-up by saying that too many SoundCloud rappers seemed to be auditioning for the Opium roster, but that he would make an exception for OsamaSon. He had some small complaints about "Werkin", but said he had been playing it often.

References