blackbear is a rising R&B/Hip-Hop star that I discovered earlier this year thanks to Linkin Park. In one of their interviews, Mike Shinoda had mentioned how blackbear (whose real name is Matthew Tyler Musto) helped write one of the tracks, "Sorry For Now" from their latest album, One More Light. Since the track was one of my favorites, I decided to check his work out, as I do for most artists that Linkin Park work with or mention. What I found was different than what I was expecting, given the way that "Sorry For Now" sounds. blackbear had just released his latest album, digital druglord, which I found myself really enjoying the majority of the album. He combines mostly R&B style vocals with hip-hop influenced beats and pop sensibility. I later found out he's done other songwriting for major artists, notably on "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber, among others.
When I heard he was doing a mixtape back in October, I was surprised and impressed; it had barely been half a year since Digital Druglord. I listened to the lead single, titled "playboy s**t (feat. lil aaron)", which also had a music video that premiered on a porn website, which was something that I had never heard of before (I won't be linking to the video, for obvious reasons). I wasn't super impressed with the song, and so didn't really pay attention to any of the other songs released. About a week before the mixtape, titled cybersex dropped, I saw more singles had been released. I listened to "gucci linen (feat. 2 Chains)", which I was already hesitant about due to 2 Chains being on the track, as I'm not really a fan. However, I found myself intrigued when I put the song on the first time and heard a much more blatantly hip-hop/trap influenced sound. Gone were the almost syrupy, layered and smooth instrumentals of digital druglord, and instead a more stripped, minimalistic high-hat and bass heavy beat that was as aggressive as the lyrics blackbear was putting out. 2 Chains' part even fits the mood of the song, and I knew that I was going to be playing this in my car, very loudly and frequently for the near future.
I then decided to give the rest of the mixtape a listen when it came out soon after, and found a very intriguing collection of songs had assembled. digital druglord was very fluid and cohesive in the sound that blackbear had put together and was minimal in the featured artists, whereas cybersex finds itself delving into multiple genres, still flowing but in larger jumps and with a whole crew of friends on the tracks. There are hip-hop, trap, pop, and R&B songs all together on the 14 song mixtape. "gucci linen (feat. 2 Chains)", "bright pink tims (feat. Cam'ron)", "glo_up (feat. Rick Ross)", and "candayapple (feat. Paul Wall & Riff Raff)" are all within the hip-hop and trap realm. "g2g ttyl (feat. THEY.)", "playboy s**t (feat lil aaron)", "thursday/froze over (interlude)", & "anxiety (feat. FRND)" definitely feel like pop songs. "down 4 u (feat. T-Pain)" "top priority" with Ne-Yo, & "i hope your whole life sux" all show R&B influence.
All this is to say that there's definitely a variety on this mixtape, in sound and in guest artists. Some of the names seemed to make sense, like 2 Chains, lil aaron, and THEY. all fit the sound of their repective songs well. However, others felt more unlikely, such as T-Pain, Ne-Yo, and even Rick Ross; lots of big names from other areas of music that I wouldn't have necessarily associated blackbear with. In each case, though, the songs worked very well, with each artist bringing their sound and style to mix with blackbear and showing his ability to adapt and mesh with different artists without losing his own sound. I definitely have a better respect for him as a songwriter after all these collaborations. Not all of the features were memorable, however; the surprising appearance of Paul Wall, someone who I never thought I'd hear again in music, on "candayapple", is fairly forgettable set of bars. Cam'ron, who is featured on "bright pink tims", doesn't really come accross to me as someone who feels unique or particularly skilled. Obviously, someone thinks he has talent, as he is appearing on songs, but that's definitely not an indication of promise. The song, another trap-influenced song, would be better without his presence.
The other aspect of this mixtape that really caught my attention was the lyrics and attitude blackbear carries on most of the songs. It's a quite different feel from digital druglord, with blackbear moving from more "romantic" and relationship based lyrics to the content typically found in a lot of hip-hop music currently. Bragging about money, clothes, cars, women; all the usual subjects you expect from the genre. What's weird to me about this is that it feels more forced and almost cringeworthy on this mixtape, specifically with the way blackbear talks about women in his life. They move from a more personal, relational level to being objectified, trophies in his rise to fame, riches, and the "good life". "top priority" is guilty of this, with the woman who is the subject at hand being told that she needs someone who can "wife her up" and things of that nature. That she is too wild and needs a man to tame her, which feels really odd from blackbear. "i hope your whole life sux" and "thursday/frozen over" come off as petty and pig-ish. He brags about being with other women, wishing someone else is hurting because he can't get over his pain, and all the "Instagram sluts" he can have whenever he wants. These songs in particular are hard for me to enjoy, because the lyrics are unbearable in their crass and objectifying nature.
There's really only two songs that I enjoyed, lyrically, because they felt like moments where the bravado and pride fall down and we see a real picture of who blackbear really is and his state of mind in this new found position of life. Those songs are "anxiety" and "santa monica & la brea", the later of which closes out the album. The former is interesting in how it plays on a lot of pop and even EDM sounds that are prevalent in songs currently, being very upbeat in terms of the instrumental while having lyrics about anxiety. Part of the chorus goes as follows:
"Yeah, I can't eat, I can't sleep, I get anxiety
When you're not here with me, I get anxiety"
and the second verse:
"Every time I smile what I'm doing fine, does it show?
'Cause I'm really freaking out, too scared of letting you go
Then my heart drowns out my thoughts, my head's about to explode"
These kinds of lines show a different side of blackbear, a softer, vulnerable side that he's hiding behind the hard exterior he displays on other songs.
"santa monica & la brea" is also an example of a more thoughtful, introspective side. The line that really made me notice this song is the beginning of the chorus:
"And maybe I could die treading water
Drowning under moonlight sonata"
which by itself is enough to be interesting and a bit heart-wrenching. However, the way blackbear sings this line makes it haunting; he sings high and soft, employing his falsetto to create a moment that is much more striking than anything else on the mixtape. It's fitting that he saved the song for the end, as I think it's the best song of the release overall and a great way to finish out the mixtape. It gets rid of all the lights, the flashy talk and money and women and focuses on one relationship (failed, from the sound of it). It helps the average listener connect better than at any other moment on the mixtape.
Overall, this release was impressive in terms of the production, length, and variety of sounds and artists, given the proximity to digital druglord. While it wasn't my favorite lyrically, it was cool to see blackbear step outside his norm and try a new set of sounds and ideas. I hope, however, that he moves back towards the sound he has built up in his previous releases. This release doesn't feel like it'll have a lot of sustainability, in terms of listening in the future.
Rating - 2.5/5
Recommended - "santa monica & la brea", "anxiety", "gucci linen"
Related - G-Eazy, Hoodie Allen, Post Malone
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