Aidan Gravina is much more than his Olivia Rodrigo t-shirt

Everyone’s turn The heights Knows that copy editor Aidan Gravina is a pop princess, so it came as a shock to me when I only saw a single pop song on his iEdit playlist. Instead of following his love of pop, Aidan created a varied, mostly hip-hop focused playlist.

There’s no better way to start than with Zach Bryan’s “28.” Aidan shows his love for the country with a new but still classic song about love and appreciating the little things in life.

“How lucky are we? / It’s been a hell of a week / but you’re all grown up now,” Bryan sings, perhaps hinting at Aidan’s ability to appreciate the good and the bad in life.

Next up are “Temptation” by Joey Bada$$ and “Better Days” by JID. “Temptation” is hip-hop activism against America’s racial indifference. Aidan maintains a theme of songs with intense meaning in his playlist. It’s clear that he listens to music not only to relax, but also to think.

“Complaining all day but in the same state / If you want to make a change, you gotta commit to it,” Bada$$ sings, and as someone with a history of activism and strong opinions, I can understand how Aidan handles these lyrics .

“Better Days” has a similar style to “Temptation” but sings about growing up and how things change over time. JID does a great job of telling the story of his friendships, his family, and his career as an artist, including the highs and lows. The song has similar ideas to “28,” but expresses them very differently.

Next up is “Poe Mans Dream (His Vice)” by Kendrick Lamar. As someone who doesn’t listen to rap, even I know that a Lamar song is a song to pay attention to. Lamar sings about the different stimuli in his life and how they influenced him. Towards the end of the song, Lamar talks about his audience.

“My simplest thing is more important / I get into the hearts of good kids and criminals,” Lamar raps. I wonder if Aidan thinks he’s a good kid or a criminal – maybe both.

Next up was one of my favorite songs on this playlist: “4 Your Eyez Only” by J. Cole. I told Aidan that I appreciated a song that tells a story, and my God, he delivered. Reminiscent of the narrative in “Wet Dreamz,” “4 Your Eyez Only” is a nine-minute journey into the life of an incarcerated black father, written for his daughter and addressing the systemic injustices in America.

“I dedicate these words to you and all the other children affected by mass incarceration in this country who sent your father to prison when he needed an education,” lamented Cole.

Aidan sets up a theme in his playlist with realistic songs about issues in America. He is a man who clearly cares deeply about the world he lives in.

“Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill brought a new, happier hip-hop song into the mix. I can imagine Aidan using this song to hype himself up.

“They’ll remember me, I say remember me / So much money, let your friends hand over your enemies / And when there’s beef, I turn my enemies into memories,” Mill raps.

I can just imagine Aidan going to class with that banging noise in his AirPods.

“Snowchild” by The Weeknd and “Needed” by Brent Faiyaz continue the laid-back R&B that Aidan highlights in his iEdit playlist. Similar to “Poe Man’s Dreams,” “Snowchild” is a close look at the Weeknd’s life as a superstar. I don’t see much of a connection between this lifestyle and Aidan’s, but perhaps I’m missing something.

“Ohh, you say that now I’m all you see / And you always saw the light in me / Where was the light when it was needed?” sings Faiyaz in a song about being taken for granted and used become.

Aidan shows his colder side with this song. Stop calling him now that he is successful Heights Editor and graduate.

Finally, finally I was given a pop song. “lacy” by Olivia Rodrigo is a familiar favorite, whether from late night production or my own playlists. Aidan can’t deny his love for a Rodrigo song, but he still loves it back. Call me a romantic, but I was hoping to see a hint of love in an otherwise politically charged playlist. Well, yes.

Aidan ends his playlist with “The Spins” by Mac Miller – a phenomenal choice and the perfect end to such a profound journey.

“Don’t be mad that your girl loves me / It’s not my fault / It’s just me, haha,” Miller raps.

If there’s one thing you should know about Aidan, it’s that he stays true to himself. The individuality expressed in this song is Aidan to a T.

Aidan has put together a thoughtful, introspective playlist that somehow perfectly reflects who he is. But next time more pop please.

Related