I chose to do my track by track review of the album digital druglord by the artist blackbear. blackbear is a singer, songwriter, and record producer who is best known for his R&B style music. I like to think that he makes music for the people who are heartbroken but don't want to listen to the sappy, sad songs. What draws me to his music is that, more often than not, he's mad. His anger and depression feed off of each other and create some really beautiful music. His music could serve as the soundtrack playing in your head when you see your ex out in public with their new significant other. Just like his nom de plume, blackbear rarely capitalizes his songs, which is so casual it feels almost personal.
"hell is where i dreamt of u and woke up alone"
The opening of this song somehow conveys the feeling of a hangover, like I can feel my head and body aching. The piano backing is perfect for matching the points of his songs and fits with the tone of the song. blackbear is obviously hurting in this song, both literally and emotionally. blackbear has a past of being candid about his recreational drug use and this song is no different. blackbear has a past of being candid about his recreational drug use and this song is no different. Coming down from a drug high, all he can think about is losing his ex and how addicted he is to her, comparing their relationship to drugs and alcohol. HIWIDOUAWUP is full of blackbear's longing about a variety of things; missing his childhood home, his past relationship, even something as morbid as wanting to die. He's in pain and the rawness of this song makes that evident and incredibly relatable. Who could truthfully say they don't miss something or someone?
"moodz" ft. 24hrs
This is definitely my least favorite song on the album. The song is about the two-sidedness of life, bouncing between parties and depression. While I really enjoy blackbear's part of the song, when artist 24hrs comes in, I typically switch the song. The overly autotuned rapper seems so hypocritical to blackbear's normally very basic, raw instrumental backing and song construction that the feature ruins the song for it. The song is ruined for me by the very thing the song is about; contrast and 'two different moods.'
"i miss the old u"
"i miss the old u" is one of blackbear's most popular songs. I LOVE this song because it shows how much someone you thought you knew so well can switch up on you and become someone totally new. Even though it's written in a romantic context, I can't help but think of all the people I used to be friends with but our relationship fell off. The distance from those people really helps you notice how different they've become and how ungrateful some of them were, with blackbear literally saying, "And I never got a single fucking thank you from ya."
"do re mi"
"do re mi" is another one of blackbear's most popular songs. This song is all about regret and just growing to be done with someone's shit. This is something everyone can relate to; there's that one person that we've all had come into our lives and just ruin everything. This is one of those songs that you just listen to when you're in one of those moods where you want to tell the whole world to go to hell.
"wish u the best"
This is one of the more lighthearted songs on bear's album. It's self-empowering and one of those songs you'd listen to after a breakup when you know you came out on top for once. You want to wish your ex the best but you already know you were the best they could've gotten and you know that they'll want you back. You're just glad it's over.
"juicy sweatshirts" ft. Juicy J
This song is so fun to listen to, one of those songs where you can't help but sway to the music. It's all about how, free of your relationship, you're growing and doing better things. This is a good song for proving your own worth to yourself. You don't need them, you're doing amazing on your own and your ex had just held you back. You go, Glen CoCo. You're a badass rapper rockstar and you're getting those bands.
"double"
I can't say I've listened to this song much. Being in a relationship with someone who still wants someone else sucks, and blackbear's dealing with this pain in the only way he knows how; drinking, drugs, and music. He's so relatable in this because we all know the common narrative of just wanting to knock back a bottle or, in bear's case, rail down a few lines of coke to numb the pain of love. He's trying to impress his maturity into this girl but she's still caught up in someone else. Love is complicated. Love sucks.
"if i could i would feel nothing"
blackbear's opening up about his depression and drug abuse. This isn't even a song that you'd ugly cry to, it's a song that you'd lay in bed listening to, letting the tears slide down silently listening to. It's not inherently sad with a pretty uptempo beat, but when you pay attention to the lyrics, god does it hurt, The lines, 'All designer when we go out just so people know we rich/Underneath it all, the truth is that I really feel like shit/I'm so sick of being tired, I'm so tired of being sick" makes ME wish I could feel nothing. There's true pain in this song.
"chateau"
This is my favorite song of the album, it's such a bop! It sounds pretty upbeat and has a catchy chorus but the lyrics really tell a story of a loveless life. He just gives and gives and that's what happens so much to me in relationships (both platonic and romantic). You're always the one whose giving and never receiving anything back. This song goes hard; "chateau" was written for the clubs and ragers.
"make daddy proud"
This song is nasty and sarcastic, noticing how much blackbear's ex has changed and throwing it right back into her face. Like his previous songs, his lyrics do not match the sound of his song. This is vengeful, passive-aggressive, and wrong in all the right ways. I am living for the sarcasm, it sets the tone of the song to being totally over someone and just being in disbelief at the person they've become. it's a musical version of looking at someone you used to love and just seeing a stranger again.
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