Untitled Mixtape

 Johnathan Warren

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0aPpLuuzxNPGo2TiH4VpsZ?si=gQl6WR_URGOkl42qjwAQUw 

For my major project, I chose the theme of the destruction of love and loyalty due to betrayal. I chose this theme because it is a major part of Sula and I wanted to show how this theme can be portrayed in many ways, including music. Music is a big part of my life, as I am constantly listening to it. I mainly listen to rap and R&B so that is the genre that will be in this project. 

Wicked Games by The Weeknd

I started this playlist off with Wicked Games by The Weeknd. This song is about someone who is consumed with distrust after being emotionally damaged. The Weeknd sings about how love is no longer sacred and how it is manipulated or rejected. This song displays how betrayal has a long-term effect rather than immediate heartbreak.

Broken Clocks by SZA

The next song is Broken Clocks by SZA and it doesn’t scream betrayal from the start. This song gives the subtle hint of betrayal through emotional fatigue and unmet expectations. SZA talks about the slow death of love and loyalty after constant neglect and failure of the partner to be present and truthful.

Bad Religion by Frank Ocean

Bad Religion by Frank Ocean shows how betrayal can lead towards the loss of one’s emotional integrity. This song also goes deeper into religious imagery and what it means to be let down by the ideals that one holds. This song mainly talks about how anyone can lose their own identity after experiencing any type of betrayal.

Heartbreak Anniversary by Giveon

Heartbreak Anniversary by Giveon is a perfect example of how love and loyalty can be lost due to betrayal. Giveon talks about how love and loyalty isn’t just broken, they are left to rot in memory. He also talks about how betrayal isn’t brought about in a dramatic fashion, as it often is dragged out through silence and the silent destruction of what was once mutual love.

Bust Your Windows by Jazmine Sullivan

This song is a great example of how betrayal can drive people to do dangerous or harmful things as shown by the title. Sullivan explains how when loyalty is betrayed, it can transform love into vengeance. A line from the song states, “You broke my heart, so I broke your car.” This shows a more real experience for the average person to relate to.

Normal Girl by SZA

This song explains how betrayal can often be deeply personal. SZA portrays the emotional damage caused when someone withholds acceptance and love, leading the speaker to question her identity and worth.Her loyalty and vulnerability are met not with love, but with conditional affection and unmet expectations, leading to a subtle but profound emotional unraveling.

Trust Issues by Drake

Trust Issues by Drake explains that betrayal can hinder one’s ability to love and to be loved as it is a slow, destructive force. Drake talks about how his experiences with emotionally unavailable partners has led him to building walls instead of bridges. He talks more about how his loyalty has now been seen as a liability instead of something that is given freely. The vulnerable tone shows how betrayal doesn’t just destroy relationships, it destroys the trust that is needed to form them.

Marvins Room by Drake

Marvins Room shows how love and loyalty can deteriorate after a breakup because of unresolved feelings and emotional neglect. It also illustrates how the realization that someone has moved on and you haven’t can lead to many mixed feelings and the inability to trust. Drake's self-awareness, mixed with resentment and longing, shows how betrayal can come from both sides, and how the emotional aftermath can leave loyalty feeling more like a burden than a bond. 

Lost Ones by J. Cole

This song focuses on how broken promises and emotional abandonment can destroy love and loyalty. J. Cole's storytelling reveals how a life-altering situation exposes the truth about a relationship such as who’s willing to stay, who’s willing to lead, and who folds when it counts. J. Cole is one of the best storytelling rappers and I believe that he portrayed betrayal in a fantastic way in this song. He also sings about how fear and selfishness can unravel even the deepest bonds. 

Heart On Ice by Rod Wave

In the title of the song, Rod Wave is saying that his heart is cold now due to betrayal. What was a once warm connection, is now left with a cold, self-protection in its place. Rod Wave doesn’t just recount betrayal, he shows its consequences: emotional numbness, loneliness, and a deep inner conflict between wanting love and fearing it. He also talks about how betrayal can destroy a person’s capacity to feel, heal, or trust. 

Trust by Brent Faiyaz

Trust by Brent Faiyaz explains how betrayal hinders the very possibility of future love and loyalty. This song captures the psychological toll betrayal can have on somebody and how it can lead to emotional walls, skepticism, and the fear of opening up to anyone. Fayaiz talks about how trust is no longer given because it has been broken too many times and how love is too big of a risk for him. 

How To Love by Lil Wayne

How To Love by Lil Wayne paints a picture of a person whose concept of love and loyalty has been destroyed by betrayal and emotional neglect. Lil Wayne gives voice to the damage that builds up over time, showing how someone can want love while simultaneously fearing it. Wayne goes on to explain how betrayal doesn’t just hurt in the moment, but it reshapes how a person thinks and makes decisions on future relationships. 

ball w/o you by 21 Savage

21 Savage is not the type of artist to talk about his feelings of love, so when I heard this for the first time, I knew there was a deeper connection to be made. 21 Savage explains that being emotionally invested in someone who ultimately betrays you leads to not only heartbreak, but to a fundamental shift in how you view love, trust, and emotional vulnerability. The result is a hardened exterior, a broken sense of loyalty, and a love that turns cold.