The thought of a bucket list is a pretty daunting concept—writing down everything you wish to accomplish in life before the Grimm Reaper’s touch. It forces you to ask yourself a pretty ugly question: What do I want to do before I die? This extreme inquisition forces one to prioritize life, and boil down aspirations and dreams into one simple list of goals. And while this may produce an uncomfortable inner monologue, it’s actually quite cathartic to accept death’s inevitability and focus on what you really want before your time’s up.
Chicago’s rising star, Saba, knows that everyone eventually dies. He also knows that everyone needs to live. His debut album, Bucket List Project, is an homage to this notion and challenges individuals to soul search and reflect, in order to create their perfect bucket list. With help from artists like Twista and Noname, Saba orchestrates a cohesive project that demonstrates his musical acumen, intelligence, sometimes bleak outlook and uncomfortable acceptance of death. But it’s funny—something as profound and deep as composing a death to-do list doesn’t always produce profound and deep results. That’s what I enjoyed most about Saba’s project—it humanizes death’s dark gloom.
In addition to revealing intimate details about his personal life, Saba recruits a medley of individuals, from lesser knowns to superstars—including Chance the Rapper—to share their bucket lists throughout the album. Some of the wish’s earnest nature evoke serious reflection and inspiration. Some of them are as simple as wanting at least one In-N-Out burger. While it’s important to identify with the former ambitious wish, it’s just as important to identify with the simpler latter one as well. This album begs the listener to not fear death, but to allow its inevitability to help lead a prosperous, enriched life; to convert that fear of demise into a fear of not living. The Chicago journalist, Sydney J. Harris said it best, “Never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.” This dark yet absolute truth offers perspective on what’s really important and forces you to ask yourself, “What do I want to do before I die?”
Take a look below at Saba and company’s bucket lists explored throughout his debut album’s outros. *Not all tracks have overt bucket list outros*
“In Loving Memory”:
"My name's Will Fountain...Three things off my bucket list: One, I wanna have a meal from in and out, coz I live nowhere near one. Two, I wanna go one on one against D. Rose. And three, I wanna *fuck* Kylie Jenner…"
“GPS”:
Comin from one of them avenue babies, hailin from the west side, nigga tryna make it to the grammys, at least somewhere. Somewhere more than a mothafucka been. Bucket list means something like, ya know you ever set up and dream and dreamed a dream and that dream done came true? Ha ha ha ha ha…chuuuuuuch
“Church/Liquor Store”:
Man, give them people hell bro...on life, let 'em know how you feelin', yo, let 'em know what's going on, bro. Free us, every chance you get, free my nigga Marl. Free Jimmy...Fresh, yo, Frillz, yo. Let 'em know yo, keep us alive out there in them verses yo. On a real bro...aayt love bro, take care bro. Tell my brother, tell Fresh I said I love him. Tell him when you see Squeaky, tell him I love him. Tell your bro n'em I said wassup, I salute you bro. You sent old girl them pictures right? Aayt, flat bro, I love you bro, I'ma talk to you in a minute bro...
“Westside Bound 3”:
On my bucket list I want ten million dollars in my bank account. And I want to fuck ten bitches at the same time. This your boy stunt taylor.
“Most”:
Yo Chance The Rapper here, um, playin' drums. Learnin’ how to play the drums has always been on my bucket list. Um, drummers just, they get the girl…
“Symmetry”:
My bucket list...my last minute bucket list, ok, I wanna write television shows, films, have movie premieres. Well hella just hood glamour ass sh-[Beep]. I wanna...degentrify our neighborhoods, like buy property and rent it back to the people who grew up there. And last but no least...I want to smoke a blunt with Beyoncé, that's the most important for sure.
“Photosynthesis”:
I just wanna be the plug so my people can eat. I just wanna play soccer on rooftops in Tokyo. I just wanna find somewhere I don't gotta put a face on for people no mo’. Yours truly, Billy Williams.
“The Billy Williams Story”:
All I ever wanted to do in my life was, make music. So...I guess, on my bucket list, what I really wanna do is-s, drop...a project. Like, nobody has to even listen to it. I just, wanna know that, I did it. Be able to say, I went out there and, did that and I chased my dreams. And that's really it.
“Bucket List”:
Hmf, alright, I know you was gonna hit me up or whatever coz I know you miss me. You already know who this is. It's your ex or whatever. I ain't finna say my name for these thirsty ass b-(bleep) but I'm gon' give you my bucket list and it consists of: being you motherf-(bleep) best, finding a f-(bleep) lead, whicho ugly ass…
“American Hypnosis”:
I too am an American dreamer. I too dream of American freedom. I too sing an American plea. I too scream 'til liberty rings and.