Viva

I Am Tru Starr

Hip-Hop and Soul, two different genres of music that share one major piece of comm on ground. Both are performed with passion and are great styles in which to express raw emotion. Whether its a ballad to the one you love, or a comment on the society around you, both genres, when performed well can stir something inside the listener. So to blend these two styles together could only produce something memorable and something into which you can pour your heart. So Las Vegas based artist I Am Tru Starr, has done just that.

Always being an artist who has poured all his emotion into his music, whether it was anger, joy, or frustration, I Am Tru Starr has never shied away from speaking his mind through his music and using it to fuel the fires of change. So when creating his latest album ‘Viva’ he kept this process and poured himself into each track. Considering recent events around the world and in his homeland of America especially, he has had a lot of emotion to share.

Inspired by both his real life experience and the resurgence in the, Black Lives Matter movement, I Am Tru Starr uses ‘Viva’ to share his own opinions on everything from politics, the state of wider society, and even simply, relationships. Through songs such as ‘Somethings Gotta Change’ and ‘Testify’ he leans in and declares his support for over turning of systems that discriminate against people because of the colour of their skin.

Along with his hard hitting, no holds barred lyrics and delivery, I Am Tru Starr, inserts passages from speech’s to reinforce his point. For example he uses part of a speech in which Barack Obama denounces the discrimination of peoples based on skin colour. With each song tackling this subject, I Am Tru Starr does not hide behind gentle words, or reserved feelings but lays his heart on the line for the world to see and hear, hoping that they will listen.

As well as his support for BLM, he comments on experiences in relationships and his view of the community around him. As well as holding all the raw passion and emotion that is a staple of Tru Starr’s music, it also slides into the comfort zone of strong Hip-Hop beats and clever use of melody throughout. It is like listening to a contemporary Marvin Gaye, or Al Green. Through his use of rap and a soulful singing voice he creates something nostalgic but current all at the same time.

Overall this album is a huge example of Soul and Hip-Hop coming together and creating something full of passion and free of remorse. Unabashedly honest and upfront I Am Tru Starr has created an album that will resonate for all those currently living through these strange times, no matter who you are. You may not agree with all of his points, or even take issue with his unapologetic lyrics, but you won’t be able to deny his love and hope that lies beneath his words. A hope for a better community, country, and world for everyone in it.

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