Chynna’s posthumous album drug opera released on August 20, giving fans one last piece of her soulful, yet melancholy sound.
Chynna Rogers, an artist with a unique, dark sound, passed away in April 2020 of an accidental drug overdose at the young age of 25. Chynna’s music incorporates rap, but in a slower-paced, entrancing way. Her lyrics are so open-hearted and vulnerable, that listeners feel as if they are listening to the contents of her diary when playing her music. She had a uniqueness that no other artist could emulate.
Posthumous projects evoke mixed emotions from fans of any late artist. If the artist did not legally share whether or not they wanted their unreleased music to be shared with the world, their estate makes the decision. Some artists’ families have taken the idea of posthumous releases extremely far and had producers and engineers work with every clip of their voice, which leads to quick songs with nothing but a chorus. Some examples of late artists with multiple posthumous projects include XXXTENTACION, Juice WRLD, Michael Jackson and Prince.
Every track out of the 13 on drug opera sounds properly finished, with Chynna’s in-depth lyricism shining through, so this assortment of tracks was most likely nearly done prior to the young artist’s untimely death. Chynna battled demons, and listeners can hear that in her music, but she was also incredibly confident, and her lyrics are a mixture of her personality.
drug opera includes features that fit Chynna’s vibe perfectly, from Junglepussy, to A$AP ANT, to Kur. “s&m (feat. A$AP ANT)” displays Chynna’s confident side, as she shares her optimism about her success on a quick flow that A$AP ANT jumps on mid-song.
“This the evilest I ever been / I ain’t mean to see a cell again / I ain’t mean to visit hell again / I ain’t mean to let the devil in / but fuck it, guess it’s time for show and tell again,” Chynna raps, opening up about the demons she faced.
Chynna’s biggest hit song of her career was “seasonal depression,” which brings to life a feeling many people experience at certain times of their lives: unexplainable sadness, yet guilt for the way this sadness affects loved ones. Listeners are gifted with a follow-up on drug opera, with “seasonal depression pt. 2.” The follow-up track digs even deeper into Chynna’s mind when it came to her desire to be independent when her mental health was affecting those around her.
“I give up on giving, I feel like I’m dying, ayy / Wanna keep living, but wanna stop trying, ayy,” Chynna shares on a melancholy trap beat.
Chynna started out as a model at just 14 years old and moved to New York City in high school. She spent a lot of time with A$AP Mob, and would shadow the late A$AP Yams. The group, especially Yams, helped her mold herself as an artist and stray away from addiction. Perhaps the influence of A$AP Mob is what developed her into such a stand-out act. Her story deserved to be told, and A$AP Yams helped her launch her music career and begin sharing her inner thoughts.
Chynna is known for her darker interpretation of the rap genre, with her dreamy, yet somber voice that flows perfectly over mesmerizing beats. Her delivery on drug opera was incredible and goosebump-inducing. Chynna was such an underrated artist throughout her career, despite the support she had from high-profile artists. Hopefully, as time goes on, more people will listen to what she had to say, because the demons she battled are probably similar to those others face.
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