Going to the "Supermarket" with Logic

By Piper Rosas

Graphic: Emily Lantzy

    From the now #1 New York Times bestseller for two weeks in a row, Supermarket by Bobby Hall is a first for the young rapper Logic. The American rapper, born and raised in Maryland, is creating history by being the first of his kind to become a bestselling author. His book, released in March, was quickly accompanied with a soundtrack with all 13 tracks complimenting the storyline.

    Supermarket tells the story of a young boy named Flynn who takes a job at a grocery store in his small hometown in Oregon. Throughout the novel, you meet some strange characters that are essential to the plot of the story. Flynn is writing his own novel on the side and using the grocery store as his inspiration. Supermarket is told as a story in a story with a twist ending, without any spoilers for part two.

    Supermarket is definitely an easier read, and the writing has some weak points. The dialogue tends to be stiff, but the way Logic was intending to write it wasn’t for a masterful piece of literature, but more as a creative feat. I would personally change the characters to be a little less one-dimensional, but the overall storyline was very creative and interesting as a novel-writing experiment from someone who is typically a musician.

    The soundtrack, on the other hand, was very compelling and creative. The songs sound very different from his usual music and gave me more of an indie, alternative-rock vibe, with the vocal turn being a pleasant surprise for fans. Most of the songs have an instrumental feel, usually consisting of a strong guitar and piano feature.

    The album opens with “Bohemian Trapsody,” as a play on the infamous Queen song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The many different sounds in the introductory track gives you an idea of the embodiment of the rest of the album throughout the song’s lengthy running time of seven minutes. Logic is able to mix the trap sound he is known for with this new indie-rock sound, and he blends it seamlessly. The vocals in “Can I Kick It” are some of the most impressive, with an array of high notes. “Supermarket” is the title track of this soundtrack, and it tells the story of love, heartbreak, and desire (discussing how the narrator goes ‘shopping more than he needs to’ just to see a girl). “Pretty Young Girl,” “Time Machine,” and “I Love You Forever” are among the slower songs on the soundtrack that truly show the blanket of sadness that follows a heartbreak and fully embody the storyline as Flynn is in love with one of the other characters in the book.

    Although the novel may not be Logic’s strongest writing to date, the artistry of the accompanying soundtrack is truly its saving grace. Connect with Logic online to familiarize yourself with both parts of Supermarket and immerse yourself in Flynn’s world.