Adorned with joyous brass and a faultless delivery, “Be Fine” is a stellar effort from Commonminds. It’s the 12th track from his 12-month project XVI.exe. The 17-year-old NY-based act has been honing his craft since age 9, taking a cue from influences like Outkast, Mos Def, A Tribe Called Quest, and Big L. The delivery in particular has a looseness and charisma that reminds me of Mos Def. Commonminds touts his own unique swagger though, working around an enjoyably predictable brass-infused nostalgia-shimmering beat that concludes nicely with Christmas-time bells and gorgeous layers of vocal samples. I’m really digging this one.
