The setting created in the excerpt from “2021” by Jota Mombaça is very apocalyptic and pessimistic. Mombaça emphasizes the interconnectedness of people in this apocalyptic, dark, subterranean world, which reminds me of the mood of this song in particular from Jhené Aiko’s album Trip.
“The world’s a f*cking mess
It’s gone to sh*t
And I am every bit a part of it
I may have started it
I try to find a brighter sight
An elevated, higher sight
It’s out of sight
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing”
I think this is a really good song to choose for this book. The eerie tone that Jhene Aiko has in her voice really cements the darkness that Saeed and Nadia have to go through. Especially when she says, “I wish I would go back // I could go back to nothing”. Truly speaks on the desolate space the book lives in.