You've heard it, you've seen the song rise to popularity, you know the artists, you feel the vibe.

And BANG, you're in the middle of another hit.

Ed Sheeran's popularity cannot be understated. Each album he releases has at least one hit played on the radio on repeat. It seems no one hates him as he poetically spits lyrics over guitar loops and other percussion instrumentals which most girls wish their boyfriends could do as well. But this song hits different.

No. 6 Collaborations Project dropped on July 12th and Ed's songs are sitting pretty on the Billboard Top 100. "I Don't Care" is number 6 and has been in the top 10 for 9 consecutive weeks (Billboard). The song features Justin Bieber which already solidified it as a radio fav from the second it came out. "Beautiful People," featuring Khalid, and "Cross Me," with Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock, take spots 40 and 41 (Billboard). All three tracks off the album landed as singles, teasing fans and unsuspecting rap listeners alike for a new take on pop blended with hip hop for a sick cross-over by the British ginger. Sheeran's "Blow," which showcases Bruno Mars and Chris Stapleton, further pushing the boundaries on what constitutes as 'pop,' is at spot 60 (Billboard). The song contains elements of country and r&b effortlessly which is no small feat. Ed even works alongside Camila Cabello and Cardi B-- both respective queens in their genres-- on his 2nd track "South of the Border."

So, what about song number 7?

Sheeran and Scott not only collab, but also dropped a video which surged on the youtube trending charts and features the two making fun of snap chat filters, photo-editing, and the need to be alone, while at the same time, not being able to communicate with people who claim to care as they both seem pre-occupied at the end of the video with their phones. As a fan of Ed who saw him on tour for his album Multiply (X) and an even bigger fan of La Flame since his Owl Pharaoh days (shoutout to those who know to what I'm referring), "Antisocial" was already gonna be a banger for me prior to hearing it. The song, produced by Fred Gibson who produces the majority of the album, opens with a sample shouting out all the cool people. Channeling something Travis Scott has mastered as seen in his major hit from his most recent album "ASTROWORLD," which contains artfully chopped and screwed samples from The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Gimme the Loot" and Luke's "I Wanna Rock" on SICKO MODE featuring Drake and Swae Lee to STARGAZING with D.J. Jimi's 1992 hit "Bitches (Reply)," Sheeran sets to add a rap motif to his stereotypically indie pop sound (WhoSampled).

The first verse has both Sheeran and Scott together proclaiming their Friday night plans of "ridin' solo." Ed, who has been open and honest about his desire to be under the radar seems to be just fine with the idea of FOMO, suggests that he doesn't want to change the energy nor does he want photos. He undermines social media trends seen by avid snap stories and insta posts to 'flex' on everyone else who might not appear to be having the time of their life. Essentially, both artists are self-identifying as antisocial and they don't care.

The pre-chorus echoes this theme of solitude in the face of rampant socialization without real meaning-- something Sheeran seems to be trying to have woven throughout the collaborative album as he stresses the need for real people to have real relationships of substance-- with an instance on space and being left alone. Ed and Travis in previous work have commented on feeling isolated in their minds and being misunderstood. They both reflect a societal phenomenon of depression and anxiety seen in millennial and gen-zers alike. The more people think they can connect and understand each other through the internet, the more it seems they have less genuine friends and connections.

This paradox ultimately summates in the chorus where Sheeran sings-- or in this case borderline raps-- "Don't touch me, don't touch me / Don't touch me, I came to vibe, yeah."

Not only is the singer alluding to drugs and alcohol as escaping and coping mechanisms, which most people listening can relate to, but he also wants to be by himself doing so. Boundaries permeate throughout the track as verse 2 utilizes the repeated syntax style established early on in the track with the opening lines referencing having a room to one's self and fumes. Again, a call to wanting space and privacy in an increasingly public world, Sheeran and Scott employ a double entendre about drugs and literally driving away in a sick car-- again echoing the insta flex trends by undermining it. In fact, Scott straight up acknowledges his Hennessy to replace feeling down. Clearly, Scott understands the common trope of stress-releasing with booze, but also hints at the unhealthy yet seemingly effective behavior.

In Scott's pre-chorus, he feels "lost out inner space" where he was left to his own place. Not only does this allude to his own work epitomized on his dark, drug-infused second album "Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight," (which in my humble opinion is widely slept on with the exception of his tracks "goosebumps" which is an all-around amazing trap song and "pick up the phone" with Young Thug and Quavo) but it also suggests that he is lost in a world that pretends to have direction.

Returning to the chorus where he reunites with Sheeran, Scott's background with feelings of isolation blends seamlessly with Sheeran's longing for privacy despite his huge fame. Scott has recently become a pop culture icon, especially now with his very public relationship with Kylie Jenner and daughter Stormi.

Both artists have never been mainstream in their genres, but both have the qualities of uniqueness and creativity which has rightly made them stars, but ironically have caused the private artists to feel the burden of that popularity. The conclusion, therefore, is to take the term "Antisocial" and make it something anti-antisocial.

Genius right? I mean, considering the recent emergence of the 'antisocialsocialclub' and the sheer definition of the word, the song praises and reclaims what would otherwise be an insult. By being antisocial, they can be more in touch with themselves and weed out the fakes in their social spheres. So by isolation, they can have socialization with real people who have genuine concern for them. They just wanna enjoy the night and will do anything to vibe in peace with the understanding that the real ones will allow them to do just that.

So cheers to everyone who is ok with a night in-- maybe you can watch the video tonight, chillin' solo dolo.