Album Review: Shay Bxxgie – Emo Clarity

Shay Bxxgie delivers tender anthems about his pain and inner demons on his new album Emo Clarity. Other times he could take his pain and make you turn up with it. His work is largely about determination, an attribute you can hear reflected in the melodic nature of his rapping, where each line moves with a similar tempo, not too fast, not too slow. He also speaks more about hard work and gains, like he couldn’t look up from the grind.

It’s also a non-stop constant trip to the center of his inner self, filled with the imperceptible detours and contours of the mind. Having dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts, Shay Bxxgie goes on to show his ready to embrace any turmoil or spoils ahead. On “Strangers” he writes in unsentimental broad strokes, making his lyrics feel like warning shots for all living, but he also does it with a hint of humor.

On “Vampire” Shay Bxxgie remembers the times he couldn’t describe what he felt inside. For him, when he thinks about his past, it gives him chills. But then he offers variations on progress, steady pacing, hope, and gratitude. His deepest insights arrive with the simplest combination of words, as if the utterance is itself part of his determined journey to go somewhere, a place that he can envision and continue to strive for calm and peace.

One of the heaviest singles on the album is “Painted Pain” which sees Shay Bxxgie make deeply internal and contemplative rap. On this record, he sounds stern but forgiving, his buttery flow gliding atop dampened soulful samples. He makes his unhurried way through the verses and remains intent on humble pursuits—fiscal and spiritual comfort, avoiding distractions and vices, snakes or serpents, he might assume. For someone who got locked up and is now free, this seems like a well-trodden path.

Shay Bxxgie has found a way to integrate rock and pop sounds into his rap music in a way that’s considerably less performative than that song about pain and death. He makes his voice heard by lowering it and if If you’re focused on his delivery, maybe then you’ll really hear and understand him.

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