Through all the noise of the summer emerged a singular voice, once so wrought by the effects of a haunting past of alcoholism, addiction and emotional instability, that now stands as a figurehead of culture, fashion and quality hip-hop/R&B music. That voice belongs to Matthew Tyler Musto, better known as blackbear, and he is ready to continue climbing his bejeweled ladder of success all the way to the top of the music industry.
Since the release of his latest album, “cybersex,” in November 2017, blackbear has remained a force to be reckoned with among his hip-hop peers, having collaborated with EDM duo DVBBS on their track “IDWK” in June of this year. In addition, the tattooed artist dropped his most recent single “the 1” in August, never failing to supply his eager listeners with the hottest lines his mind can think of.
Throughout the years, blackbear has established time and again his role as the heartbroken lover boy – going so far as to have it tattooed on his ever-smiling face. “IDWK” and “the 1” are no exceptions to the hype, playing on that familiar blackbear lyricism that we’ve come to know since the release of his first studio album “Deadroses” while incorporating an entirely new sound that masks all the pain behind the story with bass you can feel in your chest and electronica that completely repaint the soundscape of traditional EDM tunes.
“IDWK,” a sexy, upbeat tune that paints a picture of a lover desperately infatuated with someone else, is intoxicatingly easy to listen to. Blackbear tells a story of a person consumed by the desire to know “who is touching” their obsession and yet repelled by the thought of actually finding out. His voice alongside DVBBS’ pumped up electronic sound, beat drops and all, is exquisite, making for a record that perfectly sums up the inner turmoil that is born from the obsessions we form regarding one another.
Alternatively, “the 1” offers a more traditional blackbear sound and feel. Immediately, we are drawn in by the sensual depth of the singer’s voice, forced to pay attention to his tone just as much as the words that flow from his lips. The song tells a story of dismay, of rejection and loss – a coming to terms, or perhaps the failure to, with the departure of a lover and the destruction they leave behind. “You’d be the one to ruin everything,” blackbear repeats throughout the chorus. We are made to understand the power that infatuation wields over the people that hold us close.
The summer, it seems, was a successful one for blackbear. His commitment to being the best that he can be, in spite of all odds, is palpable through his records – songs that boast all the sexiness and dirtiness we expect of a blackbear track combined with the realization that love is, after all, the downfall of us all.
