Vulnerability within music
Music has always been a form of expression for many, and rap as a genre has allowed storytelling to shine through in one of the most vivid forms. For some musicians, personal experiences have shaped their sound and content whilst others draw inspiration though observation and external environments. Artists such as Wretch 32 and Rapman have been praised on their ability to recount stories through music and engage audiences. Whilst mental health and its impacts have been a taboo subject, particularly for men, the conversations are increasing and music has become another avenue to express this.
Raw. Refreshing. Thought provoking. These are just a few words to describe the works of artists such as Che Lingo, Kojey Radical and Dave, who have been candid in their narrations of life experiences and how it has shaped them.
Che Lingo
Unyielding in his delivery, Che Lingo’s most recent album ‘The Worst Generation’ shifts listeners through themes of love (A Bit Insecure), mental health (Dark Days) and some of the encounters faced by black youth (My Block, Black Ones). With features from artists including Ghetts, Rachel Chinouriri and Kojey Radical, Che Lingo captured the nature of various life experiences and his generation effortlessly.
Dark Days
Black Ones
Kojey Radical
Kojey Radical has one of the most distinctive and versatile sounds and voices within the music scene. Since the beginning of his career, his music has exemplified his ability to speak about topics unguardedly, however more recent projects such as ‘In God’s Body’, ‘Cashmere Tears’ and features, have seen Kojey Radical share more personal and internal experiences.
In Gods Body
Cashmere Tears
Both Kojey Radical and Che Lingo both featured alongside musicians Arlo Parks and Jordan Stephens in a documentary by Channel 4 for World Mental Health Day, where they shared their own experiences and relationship with mental health (click here to access the documentary).
Dave
Dave’s critically acclaimed album Psychodrama was released in March of 2019, interweaving narrations of his therapy sessions between tracks on the album. ‘Psycho’, the first track on the album, jumps right into the topic of mental health ‘Stop all the pain’... ‘Brother I'm a careful, humble, reckless, arrogant, extravagant/Nigga probably battling with manic depression’. Songs such as ‘Environment’ and ‘Streatham’ exhibit the impact of his surroundings, whilst other tracks such as ‘Location’ and ‘Purple Heart’ two of the more lighter tracks on the album, shared some of the more positive aspects of life.
Psycho
Environment
Streatham
Although these themes have been touched on in music before, Che Lingo, Dave and Kojey Radical are three artists in the current UK music scene who have been consistent in displaying a level of vulnerability that is not often seen. Music is constantly a topic of conversation and has always provided a space for comfort and healing for both listeners and creators. Whilst there is still a way to go in removing the stigma surrounding mental health, having artists create music that approaches these intimate subjects is likely to start a discussion and hopefully in future aid in the destigmatisation.
Commentary by Ira Alecia Gardner