[I know, I had a schedule—Sunday and Thursdays. But today NF released his new EP and there’s no way I’m waiting for next Thursday to post about this.]

According to Chart Data on X, ‘NF’s ‘FEAR’ is now the highest charting hip-hop album on the global Spotify Countdown Albums chart, with over 540k pre-saves.’

NF's 'FEAR' is now the highest charting hip-hop album on the global Spotify Countdown Albums chart, with over 540K pre-saves. pic.twitter.com/FjjOO9BlMP

— chart data (@chartdata) November 13, 2025

Let me tell you—as soon as I found out about this EP, I immediately saved it.

Now what is fascinating is why this not-so-random guy is so popular. His most famous—and still immensely well-loved—song, ‘Let You Down‘ was a relatable song for people who had been abused, struggled with suicidal thoughts, and depression. That’s the number one reason and I’ll get to the others in a moment. But first, what is happening after the new EP’s release?

On YouTube, there are just hundreds of videos, being livestreamed and posted as quickly as possible with titles like ‘Rapper Reacts to NF’s New EP— *First reaction*’ or “NF’s Return—And Now He’s Bigger Than Ever.”

But why is this guy so popular? Why is his album suddenly blowing up after about two years of not releasing any music?

Because NF makes music with intentionality.

Melodic Magazine says this in their article about NF’s new EP, and on NF’s music video for FEAR (which I highly highly recommend, both the song and the music video) there are hundreds of comments pointing out small details in the video.

As NF has boldly stated before, the video partially depicts his struggles of OCD, silencing himself, fighting his demons, and especially the battle of humbling yourself before God.

And I have to put the link right here because I really want you to watch it, can you tell?

Anyways, back to the main point of this post:

Why is this man’s music so awaited and well-loved?

Well like I said, he releases music with intentionality and all the themes in his music are something that others can relate to—OCD, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and fighting your demons. But he doesn’t write about these in a way that gives them power, but rather in a way that exposes them with truth.

Now there’s a fine line between writing about suicidal thoughts versus glorifying them, singing about OCD versus not addressing it healthily, and listening to songs about depression versus immersing yourself in unhealthy depression habits.

NF masters this beautifully. He’s honest, he’s admitting: “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. But I’m going to give it to God because He does know what He’s doing.” That often means surrendering to a level that feels even lower than the already-low level we’re sitting at.

My friend and I were discussing this EP and he was telling me how the lyrics of ‘SORRY’ and ‘HOME’ really hit hard. I agreed because let’s be honest, we’ve all said something along the lines of:

‘I’ll just act like you’re here
Call your phone up, leave a voicemail
And then text ya to call me back later, it’s fine
No need to rush, it’s alright
I’ll stop by tomorrow to say, “Hi”
We could play cards until midnight
This ain’t the end, you’re not going
You just found a new place to call
Home.’

The chorus depicts what it’s like when someone dies, how you pretend they are still here but really they’ve found a new home.

Now in all honesty, I didn’t even realize the lyrics said the person (whoever NF was singing to) had died. So I took these lyrics as ‘we’re not friends anymore, you’ve found a new place to call home that wasn’t me.’

Because sometimes when someone leaves you, it’s like they died—or at least a part of you died.

NF is not a strictly Christian artist. Rather, he puts a Christian spin on his music and writes about things that are unaddressed in the church. I think that his music is doing a great job reaching out to people with hard truths, even if he’s not explicitly shoving the Truth in their face.

So in conclusion, NF’s EP reveals a new take on his story. Fans ask, “Is he struggling with mental health again? Is he feeling worse than before HOPE? And what is this album implying?”

(I didn’t really have a strictly plotted ending, just a random post with my various thoughts!)

If you’re an NF fan, I’d love to hear your thoughts: do you like his new album? Is it worth the hype? And what is something in it that resonates with you?

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!
~Willow