Bryson Tiller: Emotion With Edge

Bryson Tiller serves up relatable melodies for this generation’s ‘in your feelings’ moments on his debut album T R A P S O U L.

Unafraid to show emotion or vulnerability on this album, the 22-year-old Louisville, Kentucky native, also known as Pen Griffrey, opens up and breaks down all the emotions men feel during hard times and relationships from sadness to guilt.

Songs like “Exchange”, “Don’t”, “Overtime” and “Right My Wrongs” are a testament to this. On “Exchange”, Tiller’s vulnerability is admirable with lyrics like, “Lord please save her for me, do this one favour for me.”

This is Tiller marking his territory and stating that he’s no one else but himself, despite comparisons between his music and the emotionally charged melodies of megastar Drake.

Tiller’s raw emotion on the song has made him a favourite throughout social media; in fact, people have turned that line into a popular meme because of its relatable nature.

That said, another side of Tiller – one that comes to life in more of a trap music style – shines through on “502 Come Up”, “Sorry Not Sorry” and “Rambo”.

Here, Tiller’s vocal approach is rough around the edges, his delivery aggressive. On the song, “502 Come Up” he says, “I am not from Houston, no I am not from around the six.” This is Tiller marking his territory and stating that he’s no one else but himself, despite comparisons between his music and the emotionally charged melodies of megastar Drake.

In just over a year, Bryson’s life has changed dramatically. He went from working at a Papa John’s pizza restaurant to having a hit single on the Billboard charts with “Don’t”, which he penned in his living room.

On T R A P S O U L he shares about this journey honestly for fans. Whether it’s singing about the challenges of coming up in the music industry or the ups and downs of relationships, Tiller makes it okay to show emotion, and allows listeners to say, “I’ve been there too.”

Photo Source: Bryson Tiller Facebook Page