Strange Music continues to spread its wings with the release of genre jumper Jehry Robinson’s 20/Twenty.
Best known for their Hip-Hop roster of talent, in 2018 they took a chance on young pop leaning singer-songwriter Mackenzie Nicole who released her debut The Edge, followed by her 2019 evolution into an artist with something to say with the release of Mystic. One might think that Strange tested the waters with Mackenzie and realized those waters felt good.
Enter their newest genre journey with Jehry Robinson.
After reading an interview with Strange Music CEO Travis O’Guin, Robinson urged his manager to reach out and find a way to set up a meeting, thinking it was a long shot she sent a private message via Instagram and actually received a response. O’Guin, is clearly a man unafraid to follow his instincts, had he not taken a chance on a younger rapper named Tech N9ne in 2000, Strange Music may not exist today, much less be one of the top independent record labels in the world.
So, who is Brooklyn based Robinson? It would be wrong to say that he is not a hip-hop artist, he is. He is also a pop artist, a reggae artist, and a rock artist. It just depends on which song from his Strange Music debut album you are listening to.
On 20/Twenty Robinson delivers a musical carousel of songs that cross genres at every spin while not missing a beat. From the adrenaline-fueled rap of “Daylight,” featuring Tech N9ne, to the more harmonious hip-hop feel on “Follow My Lead,” featuring King Iso. Pop, snap, and sway highlight Robinson’s soothing vocals on “In My Feels,” and the bright and bouncy “Closer To The Sun.” Whether it be the emotionally charged message of “Daddy Issues” featuring Jelly Roll, the rock tinged “Disagree,” the singer-songwriter leaning “Michael” or the reggae island feels of “Earthquakes,” “No Refunds,” and “Impatient,” Robinson naturally bounces between styles throughout the 20-songs on 20/Twenty.
Also, a talented songwriter Robinson embraces heartache and lessons learned and bares his soul as a human mixtape.
20/Twenty has a little something for everybody and listeners might be surprised to find themselves crossing genres right along with Robinson.
“I want everyone to think a little differently after hearing my album,” he leaves off. “I hope they know they are powerful and strong enough. If you fight a little bit and allow faith to come in, you’ll get where you want to go. We are way more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. It’s really all in our minds. You can do things you never thought of. It’s not about me; it’s about somebody else discovering their power. That’s 20/Twenty.”
I’m Music Magazine Contributing Writer Jacy Ray
