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1. |
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Urban Testimony the plot thickens
Easy at the height of confusion to fall victim
Story of this rhythm, almost forgotten
But the more things failed, the more I ran out of options
Come on
I can’t do nothing but live
In the course of my downfall had to take it to give, you
The humble listener, a guide through my journey
Now see yourself a part of it
Consider you're worthy
Maybe you’ve been through it
Maybe I’m keeping you from it
'Cause once you lived through it
I’m talking taking the plummet
Hit rock bottom
Come out of it with your head high
Residual effects stain your spirit like fungi
So many stories from one guy
Shake it off my nig and tell them why
Could have prayed a little harder
Wasn’t trying to detour
When life gives you lemons, got to squeeze it and squeeze more
My God
Got to stick to the path
Getting kind of heated it’s not even the half
Minus plus a minus that’s some negative math
But let me slow it down it’s only the first draft
My clarity is near, that means I’m close to clear
My vision was type blurry, my focus was all smeared
Taking y’all way back, I’m talking like ten 10 years
No matter what you forget, this music won’t disappear
You’ll hear
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2. |
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Intro:
Ha ha ha ha,
Check out this bizarre
Hey they lil' Justo do you know who you are
It’s going down man, you going really far
We praying for you
We praying for you
Verse 1:
Pastor sent me off with a blessing
Getting my education
I’m dipping off in a second
A land not too foreign
Atlanta’s my destination
Used to spend my time in Stone Mountain
Georgia summer vacations now
My preparation may come, with expirations
I got janky expectations, with feelings of temptation
I don’t know what’s to come
Hopefully just fun
One day
I’ll have to look in the mirror at what’s become
Dumb
Hook:
There’s a fine line, between
Surrender to God
And
Not giving a damn
Giving a damn damn
Yes you can, Yes you can
If you dare to believe find your fine line
One time
If you dare to believe find your fine line
On the right side
Verse 2:
I believe in a higher being
But my faith has been stripped & questioned over the meaning
My spirit took a beating
My childhood at best deceiving
Had love, from everybody 'til everyone started leaving and ah
Leaving and ah
Death and divorce run its course
Somewhere in between I started losing my source
Somewhere in between I felt a negative force
And the more I start to feed it, the more it’s keeping me lost
God
No no, no stress now
Saying bye to my fam, got me feeling depressed now
Grow some balls you a man
You really gone stress now, with all this ass on campus
Yeah true, let’s walk around
Hook:
There’s a fine line, between
Surrender to God
And
Not giving a damn
Giving a damn damn
Yes you can, Yes you can
If you dare to believe find your fine line
One time
If you dare to believe find your fine line
On the right side
If you dare to believe find your fine line
If you dare to believe
Outro Verse:
Pussy posted on the wall of my dorm room
Clubs popping, campus got them chocolate girl monsoons
Red-boning, love jonesing, folks from all over
Left my shorty in the Bronx, brought the devil on my shoulder
God help the whole world
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3. |
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Intro:
If y’all wanna' party like we do
If y’all wanna' party like us
Let me hear you say
If you only there for the realness
Oh yes y’all we talking to you
If you high as hell and you feel this
Oh yes y’all we talking to you
Verse 1:
I put my money on that
Yeah, that, that right there
If you jonesing for a vibe I’ll take you there
Lying to the races,where all them smiling faces is crooked
The beat was sounding crazy so I took it
Rolled it to a joint now you high up with me
If music was marijuan’ this would be your spliffy, get me
Wuh
I’ll be tipsy in a jiffy
Making beautiful music so ride with me
Yeah I tell ’em
Hook:
Breathe in, breathe out
Fresh air, that’s what I’m about
Take a puff of this
Music still on the cloud
And we ain’t never coming down
'Cause I’mma take you high
Take you high
Yeah I’mma you high
Take you high
I’mma take you, high, high
High high high
High high high high high
High high high high
Verse 2:
Philosophizing 'bout nothing right
Talking shit dog you fronting right
We tote tote 'nother day in the life
Got my favorite girl with me, everything’s all right
Well all right
You damn right every day on the beat
We just cypher and eat
Then decipher the freaks
Getting right for the streets and fuck them gold diggers
Shorty’s like when we speak said we some go-getters
Aye yo
Little do she know my bro’s on old clothes trying to come up
Fake it 'til we blow up
Tell them bitches grow up and let’s roll up
This an achievement
Y’all chiefin’ on my next best hit who would believe it
I’m out of town repping mine
Fly Foreva repping time
They call me Brooklyn on the promenade, bottom line
I kick flows for hoes and have nots
Eating rappers like cat food and it don’t stop
Tell ’em
Hook:
Breathe in, breathe out
Fresh air, that’s what I’m about
Take a puff of this
Music still on the cloud
And we ain’t never coming down
'Cause I’mma take you high, take you high
Yeah I’mma you high, take you high
I’mma take you, high, high
High high high
High high high high high
High high high high
Break:
If you only here for the realness
Oh yes y’all we talking to you
And If you high as hell and you feel this
Oh yes y’all we talking to you
Keep your head on swivel, eyes rubbed clean
Never know who to trust when you tote that green
So be cool, be cool
You know the rules
Better hope so dude
A yo tell ’em
Hook:
Breathe in, breathe out
Fresh air, that’s what I’m about
Take a puff of this
Music still on the cloud
And we ain’t never coming down
'Cause I’mma take you high, take you high
Yeah I’mma you high, take you high
I’mma take you, high, high
High high high
High high high high high
High high high high
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4. |
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Verse 1: Justo the MC
She said damn papi I never seen a face like that, that, that
You fine baby holler right back and I did
Quick with quickness
Soon as I got them digits
Young and dumb, eager as fuck
Yo God my witness
I tried her and tried her never heard back
Shit I’m like fuck that
Hopped on the train, week from that day
To the Bronx I sat
Hour and change just to get back to you
Who would have known in just three months
You’d have me fuck up and blue
Who, you
Damn
Hook: Preem
Is it you baby
Please let me know the truth truth truth
Feelings got me all confused, yeah
I just need to know it’s you you you
I just need to know it’s you baby
Please let me know the truth truth truth
Feelings got me all confused, yeah
I just need to know it’s you you you
I just need to know it’s you
Verse 2: Justo the MC
Things was mixy from the beginning
Was screwing with other women
You promise it didn’t bother you I was on other linens
Ughh
We met through your roomie exchanged feelings
But crazy thing I was piping her
Ughh, bad decision
But our vibe was so tight
Your thing was so tight
Them girls was so tight
We living that dope life
Ughh
I’d risk it all but knew the drama was due
Who would have known in just three months
You’d have me fuck up and blue
Who, you
Damn
Hook: Preem
Is it you baby
Please let me know the truth truth truth
Feelings got me all confused, yeah
I just need to know it’s you you you
I just need to know it’s you baby
Please let me know the truth truth truth
Feelings got me all confused, yeah
I just need to know it’s you you you
I just need to know it’s you
Break: Justo the MC
Ooh that feeling make you think love ain’t real
Love ain’t real
Like it’s just a myth, a cliff you climb with no place to chill
Ooh I think I’m falling
Somebody catch me
Said I think I’m falling
Nobody next to me
Do you hear me calling
Somebody help me
Is she coming back to me I got to know the truth
Hook: Preem
Is it you baby
Please let me know the truth truth truth
Feelings got me all confused, yeah
I just need to know it’s you you you
I just need to know it’s you baby
Please let me know the truth truth truth
Feelings got me all confused, yeah
I just need to know it’s you you you
I just need to know it’s you
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5. |
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Intro:
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here but I’m lying I don’t want to be here nah
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here nah I’m lying I don’t want to be here nah
Verse 1:
Take a bite of this forbidden fruit
No
Trips to hell let’s take a separate route
No
Let’s smoke and drink 'til we ain’t feeling nothing
Yo
I’m breaking hearts she probably think I’m cuffing
That’s passion mami no escaping that
She said you never touched a blunt, yo where the cornballs at
Word
Taken aback by your ignorance
So why I feel so guilty that we don’t share your experience and
I
Hook:
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here but I’m lying I don’t want to be here nah
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here but I’m not I
Want to be here nah I’m lying I don’t want to be here nah
Verse 2:
Paying the price I wished I fucking listened
To my conscience but unconscious to my intuition
I saw the pain coming, before it reached me
But nothing could prepare me for the lesson it would teach me
Easily succumbing to these poison kisses
God made kryptonite for me in shapes of vixens
Get the vapors like Vicks rub my chest was open
What’s a heart to a soul that’s completely broken
Sober moments came far and in between
Slow motion through your thighs so far and in between
Is this a dream
Had the whole dorm jumping
If I wasn’t in your room then I was into something
My family calling
But I was under substance
Please don’t kill my high I don’t need no interruptions
Beginning of the end but I couldn’t save face
This the point of no return, this the land of no escape
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6. |
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Intro
I told you I get you my nigga', yeah
I told you if you leave your safety I’ll kill you my nigga', yeah
I put that blunt up in your hand just so I can conceal yah, yeah
Then like a weapon pull you out 'cause it’s time to reveal yah
As a loser
You a failure, I’m gon’ cut off your life span
Yeah I took your insurance you ain’t under no God’s plan
You mine now
Think I’m gon’ keep you in this room
And let you rot in your misery 'til your sorrow consumes you
Hang up
Dial tone, mah’ fucker this what happens
When you stray too far from home and go get reckless with your actions
Smoke some funky shit and got you on a bad reaction
Now your life is in my hands
Hahahaha
Justo Verse:
God I’m sorry please I messed up
Chasing this lust
I put faith in the wrong substance now my angels are dust
The voices telling me I’m finished are they lying or what
I tried to do the right thing
Bro you defiant as fuck
Yo I ain’t talking to you
Well guess what nigga' now I’m in charge
You had a lot of time to change now you here crying to God
Pathetic
Yo fuck your message man I swear I’mma change
Don’t let me die like this
Don’t leave my momma in pain
I swear I just smoked a blunt
I ain’t ask for cocaine
And whatever the hell else got me feeling insane
I’m out here screwing all these girls with only one on my brain
I don’t want her to see me die like this with all my shame
Bro you lame, it’s time to finish you and fuck your potential
So sad, you was type nice with all your words with a pencil
Bet you wish you had erasers
Ready to meet your maker, guess who
It’s yours truly say hi to the undertaker, Hi
Lord I’m begging you take my hand
This a bad detour, I know this ain’t in your plan
My life mean more than this
More than a conqueror, I’m a man
You get me out of this, I’ll always follow your command
Damn
What’s that thing I used to say before I sleep
If I should die before I wake, I pray my soul for you to keep
I’m feeling like I’m drifting man this feeling got me weak
I’m sorry for all my sins if these the last words I speak
Forgive me
Hook:
I thought you loved to sin
I thought you loved the lust
What you gon’ blame this on depression oh man, I heard enough
But yo I thought you love the fire, living dangerously
Now what happened
Changed your mind you can’t hang with us g
I smell pussy
Is that you Just, Is that you Just
I smell pussy
Is that you Just, fine
Keep this nigga yo he corny as fuck
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7. |
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Hook:
Have you seen someone who couldn’t be helped
Pray for him like God Himself
Have you seen someone who couldn’t be helped
Pray for him like God Himself/
Verse:
Can’t believe I slipped this far
At my grandma’s crib in a room full of darkness
My heartless days behind me, caught the shakes like a seasoned junky
My mistakes now the shorty that I love don’t want me
I was sure, I’m untouchable at best
Now I’m sitting here with pains in my chest
My mind can’t rest
Body weak from the shakes
It’s been weeks losing weight
I’m petite out of shape
Stress still on my face and I ain’t
I ain’t really peep them warning signs
Now I can’t control all these thoughts of mine
All these cloudy days start to intertwine
Debating should I leave this cruel world behind
Suicide, is you stupid what’s wrong with you
Man I don’t know what else to do
All the people that I hurt, all the wreckage left under debris
Blame that shit on Abree
Nah I blame it on me
That bitch laced you, you gone cry & forgive
Is you fucking out your mind, you gone die she gone live
Well what you want me to do
Retrace my steps, plot on her death
Can’t even think straight, I ain’t got no fight left
I been falling way before we crossed paths so this the culmination
Since I left New York
This deterioration
Been non stop on a snowball effect
Big enough for the abominable
Tight as abdominal
Pain stricken
Bullshitting
Life took its turn for the worse
Now I’m cursed, wish this verse, could reverse, to my birth
To a start over, makeover, takeover Lord
Tell me what you need from your boy
I’m here lying to my grandparents, letting them down
Laying down in my own guilt, miss Obama win the election
Got this collection of failure what do I turn to
Use that failure for food and let it burn you
Wait, God?
Don’t ask questions son, just follow my lead
Spread your voice to the masses, let your conscience be free
Yes sir
I'mma follow indeed, just help me to get right and I’ll forever believe 'Cause I’m falling
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8. |
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Intro :
Just!
Wake up, Wake up!
Verse 1: Justo the MC
Oh shit I can’t move
You ever had the feeling you up but you still snooze
My body fighting demons, I’m never trying to lose
But today I’m confused
I take a page from Confucius
Have my virtues be truest
I was living like truants
Nothing guiding my movements
I reside with the foolish
Lost all my blueprints
See things tend to shatter when you stuck in elusions, I got
INTERVENTION : DVNA
I got last night’s trauma in my membrane
Bad karma looking in my face
Got so many things I’m trying to think through
But these wild thoughts getting in the way
Verse continues : Justo the MC
My momma told me keep faith
We’ll pray
It’ll be ok
Just get your shit together balance out each day
That’s tough love I needed just a kick to the ass
Slowly losing my mind
Shit I’m late for class
Hook: DVNA
Guess this be the thing that happens, when shit hits the fan
Do you believe in God or do you trust in man
Ain’t much to choose
Much to choose
With much to lose
Much to lose
In the dark room
In the dark room
In the dark room
Verse 2: Justo the MC
Nothing more telling than quiet
When you forced in a room of nothing but pure silence
Taking cold showers to shake off the riots
Going on in my head, I said it won’t leave me alone
I ain’t know I left so many broken
Hearts
Pain sharp like when niggas broke in my dorm room, wasn’t home, Stole my laptop
Every single fucking track I own now not for not
Shouldn’t have brought ’em in my space trying to sell beats
But I needed money, probably plotted for weeks
But I was tweaked wasn’t getting no sleep
Fighting with shorty on the phone, knew she started to creep
But yo
That’s karma, I ain’t even gon’ stress it
Just trying to get my mind right think I got the message
Guilt round my neck like a necklace
I solemnly swear to never venture off course or move reckless
Guess this
Hook: DVNA
Guess this be the thing that happens, when shit hits the fan
Do you believe in God or do you trust in man
Ain’t much to choose
Much to choose
With much to lose
Much to lose
In the dark room
In the dark room
In the dark room
Outro : Justo the MC
This still haunts me
No doubt
I’m a victim of a battle inside
Maybe I’ll fight it
Maybe I’ll fight it
But the pain lingers round
Pain lingers round
I was lost now I’m found
Lost now I’m found
I was sinking but never drowned
Never drowned
Still around
Still here baby
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9. |
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Verse 1:
I look into your eyes
Redder than mine, ahead of the time
Love was just a word we threw around in our minds
Couldn’t find your spirit, you know how love is blind
I thought this freak in the bed shit was all it divined
If that’s the case
I was in love, more than enough, more than just once and more off the liquor with blunts
Stunt
Can’t front, I got you out of them clothes
Who would have thought more than our bodies would end up exposed and yo
Hook:
What’s your definition of love
Us
Trust
Do you pay attention
When you communicate do you really listen
Or is it lust in remission
What’s your definition of love
Us
Trust
Do you pay attention
When you communicate do you really listen
Or is it lust in remission
What’s your definition of love
Verse 2:
I remember Mary J saying love is all we need but not
Truly understanding what the hell that means, I’m not
Saying that I wasn’t in love
More in the lust
But shit was over 'fore it started, yeah it ended abrupt
Had me feeling broken hearted, had my spirit corrupt
But I was guilty as you were in fact I started it up
Throwing hazard to the wind, thoughts was only to touch
Then walk away from everything like I ain’t like you that much
Shucks
Foolish nigga', how love begot the drama
And messing with you feelings gave birth to the meanest karma
The vices in my head like devices breaking my armor
Gave me illest pain when she cropped me out like a farmer
Broken hearts and worth to conquer
So we both fell back
I fell flat when you hit me with that
Maybe we friends to make amends hate starts when love ends, but
Hook:
What’s your definition of love
Us
Trust
Do you pay attention
When you communicate do you really listen
Or is it lust in remission
What’s your definition of love
Us
Trust
Do you pay attention
When you communicate do you really listen
Or is it lust in remission
What’s your definition of love
Verse 3:
Since I had my own seeds, with the love of my life
My definition changes and the truth comes to light
The struggles with my pops that had me ready to fight
To look him in the eye and know we making things right
Forget your pride what you trying to protect
See people empty inside, they hide behind facades covered in sex
You want the truth, y’all just crave for intimacy
That you ain’t get from your parents now it’s killing you deep
Now you out here on the low low trying to creep
Getting dumb high to rock you to sleep
They say love is weak
But being heartless is easy
Showing love is for the strong ones for real believe me I
Been on both sides, played both positions I
Understand now, love is a mission if
You can love you without conditionings you’ll get just what you’re wishing
Now
Hook:
What’s your definition of love
Us
Trust
Do you pay attention
When you communicate do you really listen
Or is it lust in remission
What’s your definition of love
Us
Trust
Do you pay attention
When you communicate do you really listen
Or is it lust in remission
What’s your definition of love
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10. |
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Hook:
The devil plotting put a bounty on me pray I fail
Burden heavy on my shoulders bet I tip the scale
But never frail, I walk around like life is do or die
Sick feeling every Sunday still I touch the sky
The devil plotting put a bounty on me pray I fail
Burden heavy on my shoulders bet I tip the scale
But never frail, I walk around like life is do or die
Sick feeling every Sunday still I touch the sky
Verse 1:
Woke up Sunday morning with destiny at my doorway
Skeletons in my closet
Silent screams from the hallway
The nerve of this nigga' he cheated death
Residual effects compete with my every step
Took that first trip back to the Brook
Took a look, in the mirror can’t lie I was shook
Look like a book
Easily read
You could see the stories on my forehead
Think of my nigga' Munch and all the shit that he said
'Bout his past, made me think, man I could have took a different route
Happy I made it back in one piece and I’m out
But who knew
Shit would turn to a zoo
I keep it true
Went to church my first Sunday back with mom dukes
Thought the hell that I put her through, cried in the pews
Thank God that He clearing my view, that’s good news
Now I’m back on my bully and lounging back in my habitat
And everything I lost on that journey bet you I get it back twofold
Hook:
The devil plotting put a bounty on me pray I fail
Burden heavy on my shoulders bet I tip the scale
But never frail, I walk around like life is do or die
Sick feeling every Sunday still I touch the sky
The devil plotting put a bounty on me pray I fail
Burden heavy on my shoulders bet I tip the scale
But never frail, I walk around like life is do or die
Sick feeling every Sunday still I touch the sky
Just Resurrect Me
Verse 2:
This Armageddon
Niggas forgetting
I was lost in the sauce investing time in forbidden’s now
I’m on a mission, no charity case
Up in Xyayx with Gucci and Dyme in the place
Had to apologize to Rico for leaving the chase
Had goals for this music shit I left with no breaks
Wheels running, tank on E, had the fill up
Fuck a car, hopped on my horse now giddy up
Missing shorty, but she on some shit
Still tryna' rip me
Played me out
Told me she pregnant, it wasn’t me
She knew, boo hoo oh well, love lost
Just focus, got a lot to make up at all cost
No boss gon' make me feel less than whatever
Got purpose, I’m a god on this surface, He taught me a better
A second chance
Ain’t nothing to sneeze at for real
Never looking down
This battle been constantly uphill
You feel
Chill
Hook:
The devil plotting put a bounty on me pray I fail
Burden heavy on my shoulders bet I tip the scale
But never frail, I walk around like life is do or die
Sick feeling every Sunday still I touch the sky
The devil plotting put a bounty on me pray I fail
Burden heavy on my shoulders bet I tip the scale
But never frail, I walk around like life is do or die
Sick feeling every Sunday still I touch the sky
Just Resurrect Me
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In the richest traditions of the art of storytelling, Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC has teamed up with Edinburgh producer Brelstaff for a fascinating new album documenting his arrival at a crossroads from a life defining year.
“Urban Testimony” is a deeply personal narrative depicting events leading up to and during his curtailed stay at Clark Atlanta University. Raised in a household of faith surrounded by a tough environment, details unfold of a conflicted mind on a potential escape route to academia straying rapidly on a path to hedonism, due in no small part to the prevalent culture witnessed on arrival.
Although an account of a specific set of experiences from a singular perspective, it is a story which will resonate more widely. At its heart is the question of self identity, motivations and aspirations while presented with the opportunities to be liberated from constraints. However this is neither celebration nor glorification, but instead a reflection of regret, the consequences incurred and knowledge gained.
It is of little surprise that a rapper of such pedigree would display all the skills required to paint such vivid pictures with the lyrical pen. First emerging in 2010 while collaborating with his cousin DJ Vic Black of The Gang Starr Foundation, strong foundations were built on a series of independent releases. Those included work with Philadelphia’s power producer Elbe Kim on the 2014 project “Fly Seoul” the mixtape “7-1-Ocho” with Mexican producer Ocho Vasquez and culminated in the explosive “Black Ops” produced entirely by the legendary Showbiz of D.I.T.C. curated by DJ Vick Black and DJ Premier.
A deep rooted mindset to work beyond borders, further collaborations with producers from Italy, Canada and the UK added to an already impressive back catalogue, while in more recent times, several releases with fellow Brooklynite Maticulous saw the pair appear on DJ Premier’s “Live From HeadQuarterz” Shade 45 show on Sirius XM as part of their promotional tour for the album “Mind of a Man”.
The soundtrack to the new album is provided by Edinburgh producer Brelstaff. Originally operating under his born name Daryl Donald, his reputation as one of the most respected emerging beatmakers was well earned with the release of “Solitude” in 2017 followed in 2019 by the albums “Behold the Spirit” and “Full Circle” which cumulatively generated over a million streams on Spotify.
Since adopting the new pseudonym he released the self titled album “Brelstaff” in 2020 and most recently in February 2023 the single “Cursive” with renowned west coast rapper Fashawn. His first venture with Justo the MC came in 2021 with the release of “Swagu” and his trademark concoction of chilled lofi soulful hip hop blended with jazz fusion and ambient electronica sets the perfect backdrop for the turbulent and complex themes addressed in their new joint venture.
As Justo continues the metaphysical role of both interrogator and witness tackling his loss of faith, alienation from family, drink and drug experimentation, promiscuity and the subsequent disconnect from reality he begins to experience with an impending sense of despair, Brelstaff’s productions are symbiotic in nature.
Images of an emotional rollercoaster through nostalgia, bliss, fear, confusion and regrets are etched onto an ethereal and hypnotic musical score manifested in tracks “High”, “Fine Line”, “Satan’s Grip”, “No Escape”, “Falling” and “Dark Room”.
However so too are the uplifting soulful sounds of “Definition of Love” and “Sunday” reflecting the album’s key fundamental messages of redemption, renewed focus and self discovery.
A tale of epiphany from harsh lessons learned, creatively wrapped in a heartfelt cry of “Carpe Diem” to all who may be similarly minded to risk it all. You have been so advised… an essential listen.
Released through New Dawn Records
released November 3, 2023
Lyrics written and performed by Justo the MC
Additional lyrics written and performed by Preem & DVNA
Produced by Brelstaff
Copyright 2023 New Dawn Records