“Rich Girl” an oft-covered topic in popular song. Hall & Oates (naturally) commented that a rich girl can be capricious being able to “rely on the old man’s money” absolved her from responsibility for her actions (incl. ones of the heart). Gwen Stefani made it a point in her track w/ Ruff Ryders First Lady Eve to declare that no man’s financial assets would hold sway over her affections if she were one (a rich girl). (TOTEM) a new American R&B artist takes a bit different viewpoint, proclaiming in that the wealthy girl in his song’s question by virtue of having it (wealth) and knowing what to do with it, or how to use it, makes her that much more attractive and above the vagaries of your basic ham and egger sort of gal.
“Rich Girl” is a great song. There’s a spontaneous, visceral, immediacy-of-the-moment quality to the track that really enhances its believability and its power; you really believe (TOTEM) and you believe his “Rich Girl” character is real; like someone you know. It’s that emotional intimacy that makes “Rich Girl” particularly special. The comparison both melodically and thematically to Frank Ocean is an obvious one but whereas Frank is maybe a more cautious cooler narrator, (TOTEM) seems (within the context of each note, each vocal line) to crave, demand, want the listener’s attention and that pull and magnetism makes “Rich Girl” (for the listener) singularly rewarding.
(TOTEM) 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Reviewed by b3
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