Following the killing of George Floyd and the racial injustice protests that followed, artists from all walks of life found themselves struggling with what to say. But maybe genre-busting rap/country hit maker Breland has found the most natural balance.
Releasing two impassioned tracks under the banner Rage & Sorrow in honor of this year’s Juneteenth — a holiday celebrating the end of slavery and the liberation of African Americans — he outlines the competing emotions many are feeling.
“Many of us have been oscillating between inspiration and desperation over the past few weeks, and I haven’t always known what to do or say about it,” Breland writes on social media. “Inside me at any given moment lie two distinct emotions: Rage & Sorrow. We focus a lot on the rage because it makes us feel powerful, but without acknowledging the sorrow, sometimes we end up only hurting ourselves.”
The first track, a one-minute rap filled with aggression titled “A Message,” highlights the rage. Incredulous and fiery, its backed by a bare-knuckle beat and stands as a musical “I told you so,” as well as a call to do better.
Meanwhile, “Real Men Don’t Cry” represents the sorrow. A tender piano ballad featuring falsetto vocals and a powerful theme, its all about the tendency to keep our feelings bottled up inside — instead of using them to effect positive change.
Breland emerged on the country scene earlier this year with the viral hit, “My Truck,” following up with a Sam Hunt remix and more new music. His seven track, self-titled EP debut arrived in May.
