Critic Rating: 10/10
With the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer, there’s no doubt that the spring and summer seasons are approaching once again. On March 14, 2025, Queens native rapper Lil Tecca released a single titled “Dark Thoughts.” This track will be featured on his upcoming album Dopamine, set to be released some time in the near future. Fans often claim that Tecca is incapable of having a bad song and that he is “back to save the summer” every time he releases new music. As a huge fan of Lil Tecca, I excitedly anticipated this song during the month leading up to its release, wondering if it would actually be the one that I listen to all summer.
The song’s opening has what fans describe as a “Pharrell Williams type beat.” Like many of Pharrell Williams’ songs, it’s incredibly catchy and something you could easily vibe with. The groovy instrumentals are definitely the most iconic part of the song, as the smooth glisses and drum beats were what got stuck and replayed in my head the most. Tecca’s rap melodies are also something I enjoy about his music in general. It flows well while still being easy to sing along to.
“Dark Thoughts” isn’t a super deep song. It mainly details Tecca’s comfort in his relationship, assuring his significant other that they can trust each other in communicating their “dark thoughts” and feelings. The lyrics, “And my life changed so fast / That I don’t even recognize myself from last year,” allude to Tecca’s early and sudden rise to fame, which has been a recurring theme throughout many of his recent songs. At age 16, he gained immense popularity with his 2019 song “Ransom” and became a part of mainstream rap music. Since then, he has garnered a wide audience and continued to grow with other hit songs like “500 lbs” (2023).
One gripe I have with many new songs now-a-days is their short runtimes. Instead of producing quick money grabs, I believe a song should be at least three minutes long where the quality and effort is clearly present. However, “Dark Thoughts” is my one exception. It is two minutes and 16 seconds long but I think this is a good length considering the track is quite repetitive. I thoroughly enjoy listening to it and it’s just a light-hearted, feel-good song.
My final verdict is that “Dark Thoughts” will definitely be on repeat for the summer. From the teasers and initial listen, Lil Tecca did not disappoint. I always have fun when I listen to this song with its upbeat instrumentation and catchy beat, and I am extremely excited to see what he has in store for his upcoming album.
