Have you ever wondered what being bipolar might sound like? Probably not, because the stigma placed on such a disorder freaks people out from here to Timbuktu – but Bryson Tiller‘s (aka Pen Griffey) debut impact might offer some metaphorical insight. TRAPSOUL has been highly anticipated since the Louisville crooner first started dropping hints earlier this year. I covered a bit of what I found appealing about Bryson Tiller earlier this year before the album dropped, and I’m happy to report his first full body of work did nothing but strengthen my previous arguments. He takes his debut album as an opportunity to reach out to the girl he wants back in his life which is a much larger platform than most of us have at our expense (“everywhere she go they playing my songs/ that’s why I say the things that I say that way I know you can’t ignore me”. Let that resonate a little bit). TRAPSOUL is loaded with visceral heartbreakers. Exchange will leave you trying to locate ex-shorty’s number through the tears welling up in your eyes, The Sequence acts as the pinnacle of Tiller’s self-reflection, and then there’s the viral impact that was Don’t – which is what caught the ears of most including the 6 God himself. There is an ex-flex in the midst of all of this heartbreak though; the Timbaland produced Sorry Not Sorry is the only break up song you’ll ever need again. Rambo is another braggadocious anthem that saw Sylvester Stallone giving Tiller props for using the name of his legendary film series. Pen Griffey also proves to be a living testament as to just how quick things can take off, and 502 Come Up is the perfect example. Just a year ago the man was working at Papa John’s and borrowing money to buy recording equipment, and now he’s riding jet skis in the Atlantic with DJ Khaled. TRAPSOUL is a 2015 personal favorite for several reasons: most of it served as the soundtrack to a period of heartbreak that I found myself in making the lyrics and the message easy for me to relate to; his cadence rides out perfectly over every beat he touches as he seems to flawlessly dip in and out of rapping and singing; and his rags to riches story is absolutely inspiring and probably deserving of the Hollywood-movie-score-treatment. I want to feel emotion when I listen to music. I don’t care if it’s happy, sad, optimistic, or flat-out depressive; music that drives home a certain feeling is instantly going to be what I gravitate towards. Your first impression will linger with you for life, and this is a superb freshman impact. You can check out the music video for Sorry Not Sorry above, and the audio for Exchange below. If you’re feeling those, stream the rest of TRAPSOUL over on Spotify.
