Hip hop duo Rock City and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine bring us “Locked Away,” a masterpiece of heart-felt lyrics and great beat which helps us determine our love for that special one while in that sing-a-long mood. The song brings one to ask if he or she would still love his or her lover even with negative circumstances by constantly asking, “Would you still love me the same?” For example, in the emotional chorus, Levine sings, “If I showed you my flaws, if I couldn’t be strong, tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?” Acceptance is just one of the many important factors of a strong relationship. Loving someone doesn’t just mean that one is fond of the other’s looks or personality. Loving someone mainly means that one will stay with the other no matter what happens to him or her. Money, power, or social status won’t matter when it comes to love. “Locked Away” has lyrics that express this very important factor of acceptance, which is helpful when one is questioning his or her love for his or her significant other.

Besides the expressive lyrics, this surprising collaboration also successfully mixes the Rock City brothers’ Caribbean musical roots and Adam Levine’s perfectly strong voice. The song begins with only piano chords, giving the listeners a very clear sound and emphasis of the lyrics Levine sings. His chorus flows impeccably throughout the entire piece as he begins and ends the song. Rock City enters the song with a heavy type of beat along with the island-like vibe, which is centered on their Virgin Island origins. It is not until the second verse where the tempo not only speeds up a bit, but also more percussions enter; the change gives the audience more beats to tap or dance along to. Overall, the top-charting song, “Locked Away,” is a beautiful blend of two different genres bringing a sound that is quite different and is fantastically written compared to the music produced nowadays.