Conscious hip-hop artist Deepwise confronts the people and circumstances that hold us back on his new single, “Keep on Dragging Me Down,” now available on all major streaming platforms. https://www.instagram.com/deepwisemusic/
Drawn from Deepwise’s own life, the song explores the difficult experience of trying to help others while facing resistance from people who would rather pull you down than watch you grow. Inspired by the “crabs-in-a-bucket” mentality and the pain of betrayal from within one’s own community, Deepwise turns a deeply personal struggle into something universal.
“‘Keep on Dragging Me Down’ is about how sometimes you try to help everyone, but people still try to pull you down and how I’ve navigated that in my own life,” says Deepwise. “As always, I tried to find an angle that would make the song relatable to anyone who has felt held back.” The song ultimately rejects bitterness in favor of growth, healthy boundaries and freedom.
Musically, “Keep on Dragging Me Down” was shaped by Deepwise’s longtime interest in chill and cloud phonk. After years of listening to artists and tastemakers including Ryan Celsius, Soudiere, DJ Yung Vamp and DJ Smokey, he set out to create something with a similarly hazy, atmospheric energy. As the record developed, however, it took on an identity of its own.
The resulting track pairs an immersive, laid-back atmosphere with jazz-inflected instrumentation and candid lyricism. Its blend of reflective storytelling and forward-looking production captures Deepwise’s genre-fluid approach while reinforcing the song’s central message: sometimes moving forward means releasing whatever keeps pulling you backward.
Deepwise handled every aspect of the finished song’s creative direction, including the songwriting, lyrics, instrumental, production, piano and guitar performances. The demos were recorded by Well KraftedMusic. “Keep on Dragging Me Down” was mixed by Kyle Oueis at Hideout Studio in Las Vegas and mastered by two-time Platinum engineer Nate Middleman.
ABOUT DEEPWISE
Blending golden-era hip-hop lyricism with futuristic video-game synths, Deepwise is a visionary conscious hip-hop artist who spreads imaginative positivity through his music. Currently based in Las Vegas, he grew up in Salt Lake City as part of a musical family. His genre-fluid sound combines jazz and funk undertones with electronic psychedelia, creating a fresh perspective on contemporary hip-hop.