This year, the music industry changed due to COVID-19. Artists could not rely on the traditional means of touring and live performances. In 2020, creatives had to push the boundaries in order to bring in revenue such as virtual concerts, merchandise or simply putting out more content. For myself being an avid music lover, I look forward to each and every Friday with the new music releases.
One of my favorite releases of the summer was Detroit 2 by Big Sean. Big Sean has been an inspiration in my writing and one of the reasons I continue to write. He is known for fan-favorite hits, Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay, Dance (A$$), IDFW and Bounce Back to name a few aside from his countless features over the course of his career. His ability to use wordplay and storytelling in his music is the same approach I use in writing.
The first installment was released in 2012 and was considered a mixtape classic to the masses. With Detroit 2, Big Sean had a lot to share and in a sense prove as shown in his “Why Would I Stop?” song after having a 3 year break since his last studio album. From the beginning of the album, Big Sean opens up about a range of topics from his mental health, his relationship, and perseverance. For fans looking for club ready tracks, you can rejoice with “Body Language, Wolves, ZTFO, Lithuania & The Baddest. From a feature standpoint, Big Sean has a plethora of artists on Detroit 2 including Ty Dolla $ign, Jhene Aiko, Young Thug, Lil’ Wayne, Post Malone & Travis Scott. Rounding out the album is a star-studded line up of Detroit artists for “Friday Night Cypher” with Eminem making an appearance on the 9 minute track.
Drunken Karaoke was derived from a time to describe my writing that takes place at night as I’m listening to music while sipping on my favorite drink of choice. Some of my best work came from listening to “Deep Reverence featuring Nipsey Hussle” and “Harder Than My Demons”. These songs resonated with me as we continue to navigate through the different events happening in the world. It allowed me to write out all of my thoughts the only way I know how. You can listen to Detroit 2 available now on all streaming services.
Drunken Karaoke Writings:
“Lucky Me”
Reggie Johnson is a poet reigning from Cincinnati, Ohio. Starting at the age of nine, Reggie has been writing poetry through their love of music and life experiences. He has 9 books now available on Amazon. You can follow him on Twitter @r_d_johnson and on IG @rdjohnsonwrites.