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There’s always been this aura of depression in Mozzy’s music. Whether it be the emotional performance of “Sleep Walkin” off of 1 Up Top Ahk, the ever personal freestyle of Future’s “Perkys Callin,” or the recent release of Untreated Trauma; Mozzy’s ability to let his heart pour out on a track is unmatched. With another album under his belt with Survivor’s Guilt, Mozzy manages to shine more light than ever into his personal life. His debut on Yo Gotti’s CMG label, its easily the most introspective work to come from the label already.
Right off the bat with the intro track, “Not The Same” kicks things off with an emotional performance looking at the ones he lost. Sounding cold & jaded, he lays down how his life has changed despite the success. Nearly every bar hear is powerful, his personal losses can be felt into anyone’s own losses. Its easily some his best writing to date.
I use to pray I live forever, shit, I don’t care no more
Ayy, am I weird for textin’ gang though he ain’t here no more?
Mom’s couldn’t speak at your service ‘fore she cleared her throat, she broke down
They ain’t know what you meant to us, they know now
Mozzy – Not The Same
Survivor’s Guilt is a fitting title in every way, as every song here has the theme of guilt ruining through it. “If You Love Me” has him looking at how its affect his mom’s views on himself, while “Ain’t Really Real” recalls his younger years & people lost in that time. Everything he’s done has been for a greater purpose, but the trauma that lingers with him will last a lifetime.
There are brief moments of brevity that stray from the theme, as these tracks try their best to be big hits. “In My Face” follows nothing the album had set up prior, and feels like a lost track from a weaker YG album. “Lurkin” is a banging track that EST Gee gets to lyrically flex on, and follows closer to Mozzy’s greater themes as it sees him in the midst of the gang life he deals with that brought him his current struggles.
A track that still follows the themes closely without having to stray too far from the overall sound of the album is “Tell The Truth.” While most of the tracks on the album see Mozzy or the sample doing the work on the hook, Shordie Shordie effortlessly delivers a hit.
Mozzy’s abilities to lay his emotions out for the world feel therapeutic, as no one is able to do it on the level he can. He can lyrically transport you to the exact moment he speaks on, with his vocal delivery allow every word to stick with you. With the stakes feeling higher than ever on this album than the ones previously, it feels like he will still only continue to improve.