The most misogynistic song on Fear of Success was conceptualized by a woman.
It Was Meant for the Stage
This was the last song to be added to Fear of Success. Originally, Track 12 was going to be a completely different song with some specific guests but – despite agreeing to do the song – they could not commit. I could have just released the album with one less song but doing so would have upset a balance I intended from the very beginning. The section of the album represents the evening, the free time where you’re around friends who distract you from the racing thoughts. It’s the “fun” part of the album. Having only “Battle Rap” and “Standing Around” did not feel like enough positive weight against the depressing midday (“Cold Turkey,” “Ghost of my Past”) and the depressing late night (“Perfect for Me,” “PTSD”).
I thought about what else I could do and then recalled something that had taken place more than a year prior. One day at the company where I work, a few minutes before a call with a client, I went to my coworker, Jen’s office. She was in there with someone else, laughing, and then shared with me an idea for a musical she was conceptualizing about office life. She rattled off a few song concepts, including a token rap song about a girl all the guys obsess over, despite it being more of an attraction based on proximity and comparison. She is the most attractive person you see on a regular basis, so there is a certain perception of attainability.
Misogyny for Everybody
When I say misogynistic, I mean it perceives the subject as a trophy to be won. That subject, in this case was assigned the female gender by me, a heterosexual male. However, this phenomenon is one almost anyone can relate to and applies to people across the board. I made sure to mention that in the second verse:
Ladies, don’t let it offend you
The concept affects men too
You ever see a fella dressed in his best suit
A 10 in his vest, anything less: 2
As with many workplace distractions, we never discussed the musical again and eventually Jen left the company. However, we remain friends and I knew she wouldn’t mind it if I borrowed the concept, especially since it fits so perfectly on Fear of Success. She has heard the song and thinks it’s hysterical.
Getting to Work
I searched my hard drive for beats to write to and selected one titled “Wavelength” that Rawhide had sent me for a completely different project. A few weeks later, I drove out to his apartment and we recorded his parts, as well as his verses for “Being Offensive” and the “Rush Hour RMX.” This was the last real recording session for the album, with the only work left to do being mixing and mastering with Dan. As such, “Workplace Hot” was definitely infused with that album-almost-done excitement.
As for the lyrics, there is nothing to unpack nor any deeper meaning to any of the words. With Rawhide’s interlude before the second verse, I did have him improvise it a few times. For moments like that, it’s an unspoken rule that we re-record until he makes me laugh so hard I have to leave the room. The banter on “Standing Around” was no exception, but that is a story for next week.
