Like any 20-year-old, Curtis Roach has gone through some major changes in the last year: moving out of his mom\u2019s house, entering and exiting college, trying out veganism. However, navigating life as an up-and-coming, <\/span>critically acclaimed<\/span><\/a> hip hop artist has proved to be the most difficult. Regardless, Roach is determined to stay positive through it all, which explains the UV-level brightness of his latest record, <\/span>Lellow. <\/span><\/i>Roach\u2019s sophomore LP reflects exactly where he\u2019s at in this season of life – on the rise, a little overwhelmed, but facing every day with unyielding optimism.<\/span><\/p>\n

As someone who openly struggles with anxiety, it\u2019s clear that Roach has repeatedly turned to music again and again as the ultimate antidote. But if his 2017 single \u201cAnxietea.\u201d is a vivid depiction of the hopeless perspective anxiety can paint,\u00a0 <\/span>Lellow\u2019s <\/span><\/i>\u201cI\u2019m Good!\u201d is a clap back, reminding him that there\u2019s a light at the end of this tunnel.\u00a0 \u201cI know that life ain\u2019t all rainbows but \/ bitch I am thankful \/ yo I\u2019m good\u201d Roach puts simply. Actually, it\u2019s the simplicity of the song that makes it so calming. Roach repeats \u201cI\u2019m good,\u201d throughout the song like a mantra, until he, and whoever\u2019s listening, actually believe it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Roach\u2019s positive affirmations prove to be a much healthier coping mechanism for anxiety than most people in their early twenties turn to. In fact, he seems to have a more well-rounded viewpoint on self-care than a lot of people who have been trying the adult thing for years, even decades. \u201cAffirmations, eating good, paying attention to my health… I take time to just breathe,\u201d says Roach. \u201cLittle stuff like that you don\u2019t think is important, it helps tremendously.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking time to breathe is important when you have as much on your plate as Roach does. Although he released his first project when he was sixteen, this past year following the release of <\/span>Highly Caffeinated<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>has opened a lot of doors for the young rapper. But Roach explains that these new doors also opened up new avenues for stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt gets overwhelming at times,\u201d says Roach. \u201cAt one point, it didn\u2019t even matter to me, the whole business thing. I\u2019d just be making music in my basement and then I\u2019d release it on Soundcloud and hope for the best. Now… there\u2019s just a lot of things you have to take into consideration if you want to be somewhat successful in the music industry.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, the veins of positivity that run through <\/span>Lellow <\/span><\/i>indicate that Roach is taking everything in stride. His moment is now, and he\u2019s not afraid to tell the world. Listen to <\/span>Lellow <\/span><\/i>below and catch Roach at Detroit\u2019s AfroFuture Fest<\/a> and Kindred Music & Culture Festival<\/a>\u00a0this summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n