Buddy releases “Don’t Forget to Breathe” album & hosts pop-up boutique in Los Angeles

Buddy is one of those artists that’s a gem in all the fluff that music fans are flooded with. With a unique voice &charismatic energy, he’s been able to create experiences through his music. Taking listeners through Compton & his mind all at once.

I discovered Buddy in 2017 with the release of his Magnolia EP during my RosecransAve.com blogging days. Having been a fan ever since, his growth has been phenomenal to witness. From learning he was once signed to Pharrell, to later becoming part of Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers III, sold out shows, & more; I believe Buddy deserves so much more recognition than he gets.

This past week was the release of his latest independent album “Don’t Forget to Breathe,” that contains 12 tracks with features from Smino, Huey Briss, Garren, Kent Jamz & more. During his interview with Brown Bag Mornings on Power 106, Buddy explains how the title comes from a retreat in Portugal that he visited whose focus was on breathing. There, not only did he learn ways to ground oneself & find peace, he also had a psychedelic trip that had him seeing two versions of himself & his ancestors. (You can watch the full interview here.)

Leading up to the release of “Don’t Forget to Breathe,” Buddy held a pop up boutique in Los Angeles for fans to attend. There was Movie Trilogy Tuesday, Wine Tasting Wednesday, & Tracklist Thursday which finished off the week. RSVP was free & within the boutique movies were played on a projector, merchandise was available for purchase, & of course food & drinks were sold. I attended Tracklist Thursday to experience the album & it did not disappoint.

The opening line to the project is appropriately, “Just Breathe.” Breathing is so natural that we don’t even have to think about it, it’s like time passing by, it just happens. Buddy expresses how life has changed, from redefining himself, leaving the label, & almost loosing his father; all things that are sure to cloud ones mind. However, he continues to prevail & free his mind with faith that everything will be alright.

‘Like This’ is a track that Buddy says (here) will turn anyone into a fan. The smoothness of the beat alongside his confident voice paints a picture of Buddy cruising down the Westside with the sun shining down on him proudly. A lot of his music gives off that cinematic feeling; the scenes come to mind so easily for those who are fans of true stories being brought to life.

As we skip down a few tracks to ‘Smoke’ that features South Central’s very own Garren, the pace of the track picks up a bit with a carefree tone. Garren sings to do as one pleases through the life we’re given. A short track that leaves listeners wanting more as Buddy delivers a verse speaking on a woman he met in Jamaica that is sure to be a good time. It’s a cheerful track that encourages all who listen to live as they’d like, a message we may need a reminder of every once in a while.

The album has something for everyone, especially if one is a fan of the West Coast. From Buddy’s upbeat tracks to his storytelling that he never steers away from throughout. He closes out with his bright “You 2 Thank” track that can be viewed as a thank you to his fans or even himself for continuing on with his career to this point. Make sure you press play on Buddy’s “Don’t Forget to Breathe” below & keep an eye out for upcoming events & shows from him. Happy listening!