California-based artist and producer, Blackbear, released his anxiously-awaited full length album Digital Druglord last Friday, following several months of heavy promotion, a spontaneous EP, and an equally attention-worthy collaboration with Mike Posner called Mansionz. Blackbear has a long list of accomplishments as a writer and producer for only being in his mid-twenties, working with the likes of Justin Bieber, James Blake, G-Eazy, Machine Gun Kelly, and numerous other notable artists. As for his own musical endeavors, Bear is somewhat of an up-and-comer that's quickly gaining notoriety, and this release will surely continue to move him towards widespread success.
Much in the vein of his last releases, and much like the album’s name implies, Digital Druglord is a well crafted mix of hip-hop and R&B that’s unsurprisingly full of drugs, girls, and irresistibly catchy hooks. From the album's opening lines on “hell is where i dreamt of u and woke up alone” sung over soft piano notes (“My nose is burning, too much cocaine”) Blackbear details a life full of drug habits, unfulfilling relationships, and cynicism that still sound like something you should throw on at a party and sing at the top of your lungs on a Friday night. Standout tracks like “if i could i would feel nothing” and “i miss the old u” perfectly showcase these vices, heartbreaks, and subsequent skepticism through Bear’s brutally honest and witty lyricism. Lyrics like "If I could I feel nothing, that's the truth and I don't care, mix prescriptions with prescriptions, it's not right but life's not fair" tell stories of emotional unavailability, questionable coping mechanisms, and encounters with girls that are interested in the latest in fashion and drugs, and little else.
Strangely enough, it all feels relatable, too. Even for a listener that's unfamiliar with Blackbear's long list of drugs or relationship disappointments, the subject matter on Digital Druglord has a degree on honesty and sincerity that almost makes you feel it with him. If nothing else, it's hard to not have a little sympathy for Bear. He seems to be wrapped up in a scene that loves money and fame above genuine personal connection, but who knows, maybe by his next album we'll see a different side.
With a long list of credentials, the success of Mansionz, and a quickly expanding discography, there's a good chance that 2017 might just be Blackbear's year. He has several months of touring ahead featuring dates all across the US, so if nothing else, he'll certainly be staying busy. Following this release, Bear's so called digital drug empire is sure to only keep growing.
