"I Was Depressed Until I Made This" LP Review [@KEMBE_X]

Had to crack my knuckles for this one cause it’s been a while since I did the old review treatment. I have a strict criteria when it comes to what I wanna immortalize as an artful cut above the rest of what’s coming out. I really appreciate when it’s a Hip Hop album. This is a masterful meditation on mental health and the concept permeates through all the sonics and visual aspects. From the bars to the beats, the videos to the abstract cover. It’s all there. So I’mma focus less on the paticulars and get to the heart of the matter of this album and it’s implications for Kembe X’s Art and trajetory if he so chooses…

In “The Culture” it’s extremely inticing for Artists/Creators with larger platforms and greater influence to expolit and capitalize growing movements around the destigmatization of mental health struggles (see ex. below)

If you do this kinda shit you a different kinda sick.

So trust me when I say I was apprehensive as fuck when I first discovered the existence of this project. The title itself was a bit concerning to me because as many know I been struggling with Depression since I was 11 and been clinically diagnosed with it since I was 16. As of this writing I’m 24 and been living with it for 13 years or about half my life. I ain’t wanna let my prejudice get the best of me though because I had no clue exactly what this album would entail. Would it be substanative and profound or vapid and unnecessary? There was only one way to find out and that was to give it an honest listen.

Long story short, homie did not disappoint. Homie ass did his fucking thing. His perception of his very personal experiences not just with depression, but the people and instances in his life which shaped his emotional development were vivid and felt all too familiar. Kembe X didn’t come to pander to anyone. This whole project is about as honest as I’ve heard any Artist, not just Rappers, in the recent present. Kembe X laid bare his soul on this one. Real instrospection and vulnerability can be felt throughout the 13 tracks. You can play this bitch straight through on one of those days, or any day because it’s not just about being downtrodden; it’s also about triumph.

The album doesn’t bombard you with too much sadness, but it also doesn’t sugercoat reality. It’s not too bragadocious, while still exuding confidence in the face of adversity. The interplay of these tones almost gives you a sense that Depression is something to manage, not let consume you. The setiment is felt and appreciated. Something about rap music resonates with everyone and really touches their souls. The pain that derives from the genre makes people emerse themselves in the music and empathize with their favorite Artist. It’s like on demand therapy really, Rap, and this album is a breakthrough session.

For a little bit of insight and context Kembe and I vaguely know each other and I couldn’t be more proud to not be the lone talent of caliber coming out of our highschool (we even shared a class briefly). But more than that I can’t be more proud of him for the strength it took to make such an album on such a touchy subject for so many. This is a testament to there being strength in vulnerablity and it was refreshing to get it from a place we don’t recieve it often and from who: Rappers (of the male variety). We struck up a conversation recently about the responsibilities we have as Artist and men and from what I could ascertain he’s really doing the work we all should be doing to better ourselves. It’s also evident in the music.

So I’mma end this one by telling y’all to go stream this shit on your preferred platform cause it’s everywhere. And make sure you share the shit with a friend, because this album is timely and necessary and you won’t wanna keep it to yourself. I hope it sparks productive conversations in your circles, I truly do. I hope Kembe X keeps doing the work to give us his honest reflections on other topics most (male) Rappers wouldn’t touch in earnest. I challenge Kembe X to continue to shift the vibration towards something a little more positive. Not to sound too much like an old head, but somebody gotta talk about what the bitches and hoes raps done did to men’s perception of women and I trust Kembe’s touch. Can’t say that about 99% of spittas today.