Ride or Die by Intuitive Minds United

Intuitive Minds United sets out to make music with a purpose—songs that carry conscious messages, raise awareness, and explore stories about love and life lessons. On their single “Ride or Die,” they unveil a narrative of self-abandonment in the romanticized name of loyalty.

The track opens with a looped acoustic guitar and female vocals, mixed in a pop-influenced way. It’s a gentle start that quickly shifts when the male rapper enters, bringing a new energy and perspective. The contrast between the voices adds dimension to the story—one that feels personal but also archetypal. The style of the guitar riff and male vocals reminded me a bit of Everlast’s “What It’s Like."

The male and female vocals alternate and overlap throughout the track, with pronoun shifts that subtly expand the song’s point of view. This dual perspective adds weight to the narrative, highlighting the different emotional experiences in a complicated relationship. Lines like “I love to look up in her eyes but I hate the way she lies” (one of the lines that switches pronouns) capture the pull between affection and betrayal. Others reveal duality and danger, like “A .38 upon his waist, and a smile on his face.” One especially striking line—“I’ll show you how I became a man with just these bare hands”—suggests domestic violence and trauma, echoed later in “His heart belongs to me, so if you disrespect remember: that his hands they hit for me.” These moments, layered with conflicting emotions, paint a portrait shaped by love, fear, and survival—capturing the complexity at the heart of “Ride or Die.”

Fans of NF will likely find familiar ground here. Like “Let You Down,” “Ride or Die” moves at a moderate, melancholic tempo. There are also tension respites in both songs, especially in the use of strings that weave in between sections of “Ride or Die”. This same arrangement pattern can also be heard on NF’s song “Let You Down” with the solo piano. Where NF uses a vocoder to mimic a second voice, Intuitive Minds United has the advantage of two distinct vocalists, giving their duet a more organic feel. It’s one of the song’s strongest elements: that back-and-forth dynamic carries a lot of emotional weight, heightens the intimacy, and keeps the listener engaged.

Overall, “Ride or Die” blends pop, acoustic, and emo-rap influences into a story about devotion and the quiet cost of staying too long. It’s sincere, layered, and built for repeat listening—especially if you’re someone who likes a little introspection with your 808s.