Black Barbershops are interesting places. In a matter of moments, you may hear someone say the wisest thing and the most ignorant thing in the same sentence. Today, I’m choosing to focus on the former instead of the latter. Not long ago, I was sitting in the chair when I heard someone twice my age say, “The tougher the ask, the fewer instructions there are to complete it.” For whatever reason, that quote always stuck with me. First, it stuck with me because that same man also said that the Earth is flat. Second, it’s sticking with me right now because it’s the best way I can describe the EP that I’m listening to as I write this. It’s a seven-track project The Other Side by an artist named Chxrry22. You might have heard of her. She’s been featured on VIBE, BET and Uproxx and garnered thousands of followers along the way. It’s light work for her, really.
With that said, her latest project, The Other Side, addresses this ongoing battle she’s having both internally and externally as she attempts to balance her professional career with her personal life. Unfortunately, there’s no instruction manual on how to be a successful artist with immense talent while also having a somewhat normal life. As a result, mistakes are bound to be made and lessons will be learned. Fortunately, Chxrry22 has the ability to deliver these revelations and reflections in a way that is both soulful and captivating.
“The Other Side is about coming to terms with duality – we all have two sides,” Chxrry22 said about her latest project.
“We can be both the villain and the victim in some story and this is me owning that.”
Listen to Chxrry22 own her victories and losses throughout her new EP, The Other Side, below.
