People of all ages have succumbed to the power of social media, and in his new music video for “No Fly Zone,” Sareem Poems looks for a way out.
The Travis Hayward-directed video depicts Sareem Poems alone in a woodsy, railroaded area, dropping rhymes about our needs to keep up with each other’s false self depictions, the trauma from seeing violence on our screens, and fears how things may become worse. Fans of thoughtful, laid back hip-hop from acts like A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots will be right at home with this record.
“‘No Fly Zone’ is a song about the pressure social media puts on people. What we look like when we leave the house, what we listen to, etc. Is based around a highlight reel published for likes,” Sareem Poems told VIBE. “For most, it’s hard to enjoy a peaceful moment. Checking the phone, taking a picture of yourself, food, etc. is all done in the company of friends and alone. Putting your phone on silent is cool. But, you can still see it light up.
“I think more Desperate measures are needed,” he continued. “Put your phone on airplane mode. Take the time to rediscover the things that make you, you. Writing this was for me too. I fall in line with everything I said in the song. I’ve been missing out on special moments, all because I had my eyes focused on my phone instead of the people and events right in front of me.”
“No Fly Zone” appears on 88 To Now, the new album by Sareem Poems and producer Newselph. Stream or buy it on your preferred services.