Single Review: Otis Mensah - The Thinks

Otis Mensah is back with the fourth episode in his series #OtisMensahExists and as usual, the Sheffield MC impresses with his latest track ‘The Thinks’. For those of who don’t know, Mensah is an alternative hip hop and spoken word artist, who has built a dedicated online following and has performed at events such as the BBC Music Introducing Stage at Glastonbury in 2017. Add to that his appointment in 2018 as Sheffield’s poet laureate, and it’s safe to say that Mensah is certainly someone who is making his mark on the region. 

His new single ‘The Thinks’ is ‘an ode to the overthinker’ – with the track evoking a relaxed and rhythmical setting, while Mensah’s lyrics dominate and document how we all feel when overthinking takes over. The piece focuses on ‘an impending sense of demise and [feeling] that you can’t escape’, mirroring the cyclical nature of obsessive thinking that will seem sadly familiar to many people. With that being said, the track further illustrates how Mensah is able to explore such deep topics in a unique and engaging way. Produced by Brelstaff Music, with illustrations by Jim Spendlove, ‘The Thinks’ is another incredibly creative single from Mensah, but would we really expect anything less?!

Make sure you check out our review of his previous single ‘No Record Store Day’, and our 2019 interview with the Sheffield artist.

Words: Sophie Swift