March.13

Jungle is a track best played in the midst of turmoil.

There’s no doubt 40 knew slowing up Garzón-Montano’s “6 8” and throwing it over Drake’s vocals was the tried-and-true formula for self reflection.

I’ll put it to you like this, Marvin’s Room is what you listened to in high school when your crush got switched out of your Algebra class and broke your Snap streak. But Jungle? Jungle is adult sh*t. 

It emphasizes the point in adulthood when you learn to let things go—whether that’s accepting someone might not be good for you or learning to focus on yourself after a long season of focusing on others.

It’s the type of track you reserve for the few times a year L.A. decides to be dark and stormy. The one you play when your ex hits your phone on your birthday. When a big life opportunity you were really banking on falls through. When your new flame keeps playing games on you.

 A track for when your ego’s bruised and your heart is in bandages.

And so, if the song is called Jungle it’s because each bar Drake throws out clings to you like a vine you can’t get unwrapped from.

When he opens with: These days, I’m letting God handle all things above me. You felt that.

When he admits: Still finding myself, let alone a soulmate. You can’t help nodding in agreement.

And when he asks: What am I supposed to do after we’ve done everything that we’ve done? Who is your replacement? You instantly thought of...well, only you know.

Though, let’s be clear, while it's easy to misconstrue Jungle as any ol’ failed relationship song, it proves way deeper than that when you’re currently going through the same.

Because a break up with someone else almost always means a make up with yourself. We’re all too familiar with dropping the dead weight of a relationship and re-entering the “jungle” that is the single world.

Ruthless, untamed and full of competition, it’s tough not to run back to the person you found comfort in. 

Try going out with friends, you find yourself spilling your drink over your phone, texting them: Are we still good, are we still good?

Like I said, it can be tough out here and it seems Drake knows that.

The question is, how do you handle your own jungle? 

Because as chaotic as it may seem—that it being your singlehood—it can also be a place of purity, boundlessness and peace.

Really, the choice is yours.