I’ve been writing so much about Dro Kenji in the last few weeks, but that’s because I just found out about him and I can’t believe what I’ve been hearing. He has surprised and pleased me with every new song he has released, and I can’t even believe that this is just the beginning for the young South Carolina native. Whenever internet Money takes a chance on a rising artist in order to mold them into a star, you know they don’t mess around, and there is absolutely no exception in Dro Kenji’s case whatsoever.
In my article earlier this week about his single “Save Me”, I mentioned how he was gearing up to release his first mixtape with the help of Internet Money entitled Tears and Pistols, and after a grueling wait and so many promotional pieces of content being shared all over social media, we finally have some of the most remarkable music in one cohesive place, and I couldn’t be more excited for the world to hear it.
Beginning with “Hell”, an almost digital-sounding, fast-paced instrumental introduces us to Dro in a captivating and attention-grabbing manner. As he begins to spit, the beat remains simple and gives him a steady foundation to display his energy and spirit first and foremost before anything else. Eventually, percussion and more noticeable 808s enter into the picture, causing a remarkable boost in enthusiasm that Dro not only matches but enhances throughout the entire duration of the record.
Things slow down slightly on the following song “Sing Her a Song” with some touching acoustic guitar strums, spaced-out drums, and calm, rhythmic hats and claps that provide an emotive yet peaceful base. With this beat, Dro truly lets his emotions fly free and let his passion take the wheel as his notes are sung in some of the most telling, evocative ways that show off exactly why he is going to be the next big thing in the music industry.
After his most recent single “Save Me”, we arrive at “Blowing You Down”, a cut that features the EP’s one and only feature in one of my favorite artists out right now, TyFontaine. The pain-stricken, passionate vibes continue in this record, being highlighted by sensitive piano keys that truly complement Dro’s frustrations wonderfully. As he sings, there is a clear sorrow and irritation behind his words, and this almost comes out in an aggressive, angry way through his fervent delivery. While Ty continues to exude these feelings, there is a bit more composure behind his lyrics that almost give off the impression that he’s numb to these emotions and doesn’t let them affect him any longer.
The following two songs “100 Rounds” and “Codeine Punch” were also released prior to the EP and I have gone into heavy detail in the past, so I’ll let you hear them for yourselves as you make your way through the project. After these singles, we arrive at “Friend”, a track that contains some more spacey, airy synths that take third place behind some piercing percussion, but of course, Dro’s vocals steal the show every step of the way. The way he utilizes multiple vocal layers and is able to change the intonation of his voice in the blink of an eye seems to come effortlessly to him, and it is truly unbelievable that he demonstrates so many different aptitudes continuously throughout this project.
“Hey” is up next, boasting another emotive guitar melody with crisp hats and pungent drums. I appreciate this track because he often ramps up his enthusiasm in order to arrive at his strong, passionate notes, but he begins at the pique right off the bat in the hook, drawing you back in if you ever even thought of being sidetracked.
The penultimate record is “Pop Out”, a cut that uses a fairly familiar instrumental to what we’ve heard throughout, yet Dro continues to switch things up and keep the sounds as fresh as can be. He does so by somewhat subduing his mannerisms more than before, still crooning and singing with desire and heartache, but not allowing these expressions to overtake him as much as he has on other inclusions on the EP. Finally, he rounds things out with a track that is very close to the title, called “Tears and Pistols”, a song that utilizes a much more hopeful, persevering piano melody that is elevated by upbeat percussion and bouncy drums. Dro matches the vibe of the production extraordinarily, bringing his pain together with his triumph in the most inexplicable way that ends the project on the highest of notes.
Each and every single that Dro had released prior to this EP in its entirety was incredible on their own, but hearing them in context with an entire storyline that develops throughout the project makes them immensely more impactful and truly gives us an insight as to who Dro is not only as an artist, but a person in general. He clearly wears his heart on his sleeve, doesn’t mask his emotions, and isn’t afraid to describe some of his more painful memories, which not only connects with fans on a much more personal level but gives him the opportunity to share his story with the world through one of his most captivating gifts. Dro Kenji might not be the most recognized artist on your radar at the moment, but he’s well on his way to unfathomable stardom, so make sure you don’t miss out on his journey to the top. With that being said, stop whatever you’re doing and make sure you check out his brand-new EP Tears and Pistols as soon as possible because it’s the best thing you’ll hear all week, if not all month.