The self-proclaimed “Texas Tycoon,” known as Teezo Touchdown, has been on the minds of every hip-hop, rock, and R&B fan this year. Teezo personifies two types of R&B: the first is rhythm and blues, while the second and more pronounced genre is his creation, known as “Rock & Boom.” Teezo describes “Rock & Boom” as “R&B with the intensity of rock, the penmanship of hip-hop, and a boom that will shake the world!” His songs have circulated through the music world since making a name for himself in 2022 when he opened for Tyler, The Creator–his performance was electrifying. Without knowing any of the lyrics, Teezo’s world enthralled me: a world of chainsaws, electric guitars, and a head full of nails. From then on, the genre-bending musician became a sought-after feature on hip-hop projects. Bouncing between songs with Paris Texas, Don Toliver, and most recently Travis Scott, Teezo continued to show his skills and style in the rap game.
On September 8th, Teezo released his long-awaited debut album, How Do You Sleep At Night? The listener can quickly recognize his signature “Rock & Boom.” The opening track, “OK,” is a self-reflective call to action and awakening for Teezo. In the past, he received criticism for “doing too much,” but he ignored these statements by shouting, “I’m gonna do it anyway!” throughout the intro track. The lead single, “You Thought,” comes next with a melodic feature by singer/actress Janelle Monáe. Teezo’s tone and energy soften on this track spotlighting his range and craft.
The album deals with Teezo finding love and reflecting on how far he has come as a person and artist. “Impossible,” the fifth track, finds Teezo proving his worth and reminiscing on his challenging path to fame. The emotion feels raw, along with the relatable and honest questions he asks himself. Elements of rock and the conventional form of R&B flow throughout the album, and can easily be shown in the song “Mood Swings.” Sounding reminiscent of an Isaac Hays or Curtis Mayfield deep cut, “Mood Swings” finds its boom with its groovy opening. The rock, however, does not arrive until the second minute during a condensed guitar solo that could have been taken from Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of The Moon.” This moment quickly fades back into the funky instrumental, yet, both rock and boom resound, making “Mood Swings” the stand-out track on the record due to the instrumental.
Teezo’s ability to find his voice in a range of genres makes each song feel fresh and fun. Receiving cosigns from Drake, Travis Scott, and Tyler, The Creator, may have helped him find popularity; however, the music speaks for itself and will be able to reach a variety of new fans. I am very impressed with the album and look forward to seeing the metal-headed rock star in concert soon. From the Fousheé feature on “Sweet” to the amusing lyrics on “Nu Nay,” it is easy to say that Teezo scored a touchdown with his debut.
Rating 8.5/10
