True to Self – Bryson Tiller
Bryson Tiller brings the pain alongside the pleasure in his second album, True to Self, releasing in the late spring/early summer, on May 26th. If you listened to and enjoyed his first official album T R A P S O U L, you’ll find a lot of the same sounds deep in the tracks of this hot release. This is an explicit tag warning, much like his first album; those who prefer a much cleaner listen might want to steer clear!
True to Self makes a fantastic first impression in its intro track, titled “Rain On Me”. Its symbolic use of background noises helps to set the mood as the song opens up with a few lines of substance, highlighting the troubling circumstances Tiller finds himself in with his significant other. He experiences miscommunication and an influx of jealousy when he doesn’t reciprocate their interest via phone conversation, and ultimately gets plastered with accusations that lead to the disruption in their relationship.
The mixture of emotional lyrics and Trap-inspired rhythms is the classic “Tiller” feel that many have come to know and love, as seen in the debut song “Don’t Get Too High”. Possibly the most unexpected turn for recently inducted fans is the quickness with which the established RnB feel is thrown out the window and replaced with a more methodical Hip-Hop cadence. Verses turn to bars, and Tiller is out for blood in several of the more Rap-centric tracks, although to separate the two previously mentioned styles would be criminal. There’s a certain level of ingenuity that accompanies Tiller’s unique blend of saturnine, thoughtful lyrics and hardcore “Bass and Hi-Hat” beat. His expertise with the tools separates his work from the rest of the new wave of Hip-Hop RnB songs that are appearing as of recent.
With only two official album releases, there is an incredible amount of room for improvement. An important thing to consider regarding new releases early in a career is the amount of potential left in an artist’s timeline. Keeping this in mind, I am incredibly pleased with the new release, and it even allowed me to discover one of my new favorite songs: “Don’t Get Too High”. I recommend throwing this album on when flapping gums with close friends, and sharing insightful stories over good drinks.
