SB19’s Josh Cullen, rapper Al James join forces in ‘Yoko Na’
P-pop star Josh Cullen and prolific rapper Al James come together in “Yoko Na,” a collaborative new single released under Sony Music Entertainment.
Lyrics-wise, “Yoko Na” expresses the words left unsaid in the midst of a relationship fallout.
The song bears the hallmarks of a summer anthem, thanks to infectious rap verses from both artists, an inescapable chorus, and a vibrant arrangement that blends modern hip-hop and R&B sensibilities with emotional flair.
Brian Lotho, who coproduced the track with Josh, captures the essence of the lyrics with steely defiance, adding an extra layer of authenticity by injecting unique elements such as the sound of bottles shattering, tables flipping and other little details.
“‘Yoko Na’ is the product of a soul-baring session with Brian,” Josh Cullen shares. “For this particular jam, we traded cliche love stories with messy, real-life situations that ordinary people
‘Yoko Na’ is the product of a soul-baring session with Brian. It’s raw, honest and straight from the heart
Josh Cullen Singer/Songwriter
encounter on a daily basis: the frustrations and struggles from past relationships, and how you confront it with more maturity. It’s raw, honest and straight from the heart.”
Josh said he mustered the courage to ask the viral hitmaker to be part of the track despite the short notice. Luckily, Al said yes and sent his verse a few days ahead of the deadline.
‘Very chill’
When asked about how Al is as a collaborator, Josh had nothing but praise for the “Pa-umaga” act.
“He’s very chill,” he notes. “He submitted the reworked track ahead of time and recorded his parts in less than an hour. I really admire his level of professionalism. After that, we just bonded instantly and went on a food trip.”