Sherveport, Louisiana-based rapper/songwriter Barefoot River unveils his debut project, Only God Can Love Me. The 11-track project is threaded by topics ranging from self-assessment, loss, reflection, and growth. The production varies and infuses quite several genres, ranging from soul,R&B, soft rock/pop and hip-hop.

“Mercy” is the introductory track, and it’s built on a cinematic string and vocal sample with no drums. Here, Barefoot River gives insight into his struggles and school of thought with lines like “You won’t find a prince, prophet or the chosen one/Just a nobody who just happens to know a song/Something ’bout COINTEL, something ’bout revolution/Something ’bout abandoned in every dollar’s movement/Pawns dying over thrones trying to claim king/ but a king is a king and I’m already is“. “Blue Eyes” has the only feature in the form of legendary West Coast lyricist Blu and has an energetic drum break and scenic sample that evokes urgency. Here, Barefoor River talks about resilience and the rising emotions in a cold world. The unforgiving nature of life has turned many men into villains, but here, the rapper gives a nuanced take on it, shedding light on the other side of the coin. “Content” has a soft rock/soulful vibe with a downtempo bounce,but overall, it’s layered and enthralling. The track dives into love, performative gestures and the parallels of content creation in the modern era. Barefoot River is quite candid and somewhat playful with his lyrics, but overall, it’s quite relatable and well-crafted. “Dead Man Walking” has a moody feel and dives deeper into the rapper’s psyche. As the title suggests, it deals with trepidations, fear and loss of sense in the modern world where nothing is promised. Here, the rapper delivers his bars with an almost deadpan tone with lines like “Unholy wars, unholy Matrys/Some stories can never be told/Some game can never be sold/Some things you just gotta know/uncommon ground uncharted territory so far gone becomes unfamiliar/home is where the heart is and also where the hatred was“

The project keeps switching up in terms of sounds, and listeners can lean on laidback warm sounds to uptempo cuts. For example, “I Don’t Know” has a 90s R&B/hip-hop vibe that oozes pure nostalgia, and Barefoot River utilizes this to the fullest. Using his characteristic laidback flow and knack for penning reflective lyrics, he takes listeners through the gamut of emotions and lays his thoughts on wax with no filter. Again, he still manages to add a bit of brightness in his performance as he moves through the dark cloud hanging over his head. “Good Life, Wicked World” has a happy-go-lucky/hippie soundscape comprising bright guitar licks and soft grooves, but the topic at hand is insightful and dark as Barefoot River unpacks generational trauma and the ugly effects it has on his life. On the flipside, he still touches on the bright side and shows listeners that he is not too far gone in the deep end. “Love” is a conceptual track that talks about the different interpretations of the term and looks at emotional pain, loss, hurt and anger with lines like “Somebody put a price on replicas to picth a scheme/Not for the weak, charge them a fee to breathe, not -just the elite that’s how everybody be/I hurt you beacuse hurt people had on me/You hurt me back, I hurt you worse, the cycle repeats.” The track is particularly striking as it gives a nuanced take and shows remorse and accountability.

The final track, “Fast & Pray,” ends the project on a solemn and insightful note. The beat is warm and nostalgia-inducing and soulful, while Barefoot River’s profound lyrics remind listeners to be steadfast in their dealings and relationships. From family drama, personal demons and struggles, the rapper shares some gems on the concept of forgiveness, being prayerful and having the strength to let things go to facilitate moving ahead. Other notable tracks include “Chasers,” a trippy piece built on atmospheric and ethereal samples underpinned by spiritual lyrics, or “Scars & Strifes” where he uses somewhat offbeat melodies and gives listeners a glimpse into his past and family ties. “Blackface” is a no frills, unapologetic look at the commerciallization of black tragedy and doesn’t mince words on how the media overplays this everytime to the detriment of people of colour.

Overall, Only God Can Love Me is a somewhat cohesive and detailed project that explores the trials and tribulations of a young black man trying to find his footing in this world.

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