Bizzy Crook‘s (a.k.a. BZZY) sixth project, A Part Of Everything, quite literally begins with a poetic “Journey,” and finds the 24-year-old Miami-born rapper tackling topics revolving around his ever-evolving career, intimate relationships and familial climate in a way that’s not only insightful, but also surprisingly refined for a ’90s baby. Perhaps it’s due to his time spent living overseas in Egypt, where developing a sense of culture is not an option, but a necessity. Or maybe it’s his tumultuous battle with depression throughout his childhood, subsequent suicide attempt and eventual triumph over that period of his life that gave him a deeper understanding of the human condition, and the will to persevere. Whatever the case, the 14-track effort bursts with an unexpected maturity and paints a vibrant portrait of where Bizzy stands in his life.
Over beats crafted by Toronto producers Daniel Worthy, Zalesky and Maybach Music Group’s Foreign Teck, jazz, soul, R&B, EDM, and pop permeate the project, displaying his depth of range. He takes a sharp left with the horn laden “The Come Back,” which veers from the ethereal vibe of the project and delivers more of a sharp, lyrical punch in the gut with lines like, “Moment of silence for the niggas that thought it was quiet/it’s time to show them niggas starvin’ ain’t part of the diet/niggas said they had my back/turned out they was lyin’/you should have known Biz has the heart of a lion.”
Throughout the record, BZZY continues laying it all out on the table, never shying away from vocalizing his thoughts on the negative experiences he’s endured. Reportedly inspired by the 1988 Paulo Coelho classic novel, The Alchemist, the album embraces the beauty and ugliness of life’s voyage.
“I’ve read it about three times now,” BZZY said in an interview with Vibe. “It’s about a boy who goes on a journey to find himself and goes through all the headaches, but he finds out that everything is a part of your destiny. So it’s just me man… I was real vulnerable on ‘No Hard Feelings’ and sh*t, but sometimes I hold back a little. This time I’m just letting it all out. I’m not scared of being judged. I’m just telling my story like all the mistakes I’ve made, everything I’ve been through, the sh*t I’m not proud of. I’m just letting it out.”
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While the overall sound of the album is undeniably somber, there are a few brighter moments that inch towards something heard at a Las Vegas club on a Saturday night, including “Tell Me” (featuring Jovanie) and “If You Only Knew (featuring Lloyd),” which are both dusted with a pinch of EDM and baked in pop.
However, he truly shines when he’s in a mellow, more reflective mood, when his words can stand out and aren’t buried by a raucous dance beat. “Closure,” “Hopes and Dreams” and “The Rhythm, Pt. 3/Away From It All” with Nil Bambu all put his pen game to the test, and allow his narrative storytelling to take centerstage.
“This rap shit is everything to me/I used to cut my wrists when I used to write songs/just to spill it on the page/easy come, easy go/that’s just how it go/I mean I never could have made it through the obstacles/I mean a nigga could have died in the hospital/instead I’m here to take a shot/so it’s lock and load,” which presumably is a reference to his failed suicide attempt, building his case even more that he’s a survivor.
BZZY is still young and will presumably continue to accumulate more hard won wisdom that comes along with growing older, but A Part of Everything proves he’s off to a prodigious start.
