There’s a lot to unpack in ‘Self Made’. On the surface, it might look and sound like another trap record, yet, once you take a dive into KillJoy‘s fragmented personal experience, a meaningful and nuanced lyrical picture emerges, one that reflects the ethos and artistic drive behind the project. Featuring four tracks, ‘Self Made’ is certainly well-produced and expertly recorded. References are inherently modern, with bouncy hip-hop and trap stylings guiding a pretty minimal approach to beat-making.
KillJoy’s deep and tight flow crowns each rap piece, often delivered with surprising calmness and understated character. He’s in full control of his voice, managing to gain the listener’s trust in just a few bars. Fellow vocalists JadieLil and Y.Rxven join in on ‘Capricorn’ and ‘Fantasy’. The inspiration behind ‘Self Made’ is a rather painful event in KillJoy’s recent past. Following an argument with some friends, he briefly faced serious criminal charges, an experience that left him looking for meaning and authenticity.
‘Self Made’ is the result of such a powerful process of reflection and processing, almost a coming-of-age tale where KillJoy is able to grow and recognize what really matters in life. As he explains: “Whilst this is not an album, it’s a short story I’m happy to share with the world about my personal upbringing and the struggles and experiences I lived whilst growing up”.
Recommended! Discover ‘Sef Made’ on Spotify:
