G Herbo Reflects On Mental Health And Childhood Trauma On "PTSD" Album
By: James Teague
For several years now, many people have become more open towards vulnerability and expressiveness in regards to the subject of mental health. As humans, we all have experienced different types of trauma that may have short term or long term effects on us. If you’re someone like rapper G-Herbo, whose lived a compelling lifestyle that has left long term effects of trauma growing up on the Eastside of Chicago, then your POV on viewing life can be real different.
On his new album, PTSD, we follow Herbo’s memoir detailing his life as a 24 year old rapper from Chicago, reflecting on his past and present day traumas, including remembering and honoring all of his childhood friends who’ve passed away due to violence or other traumatic activities. Herbo has been teetering in between the Hip-Hop & Mainstream world, whether it’s from his musical release or a continued storyline of his past relationship with his baby’s mother Ari Fletcher, who also is IG-Famous as well.
Despite many distractions and opinions, Herbo refuses to let the distractions get to him as he focuses on using the music that he’s grown up with to help spread awareness on neighborhood kids potentially having PTSD, which can be just as severe as someone who's served in the army. Herbo shows the maturity in his music as he raps effortlessly on his Intro track, which is produced by Don Cannon & happens to use a sample of Jay-Z’s classic Dynasty intro.
Throughout the album, such records as “Gangstas Cry” with BJ the Chicago Kid, “Party in Heaven” with Lil Durk, and the title track “PTSD” with Juice Wrld, Chance the Rapper, & Lil Uzi Vert are shown to be the high points on his album. On “Feelings”, which is led by a sampling of Jadakiss song, “Still Feel Me,” Herbo begins to rap and open up about his estranged relationship with Ari Fletcher. He raps his true feelings saying,
“Talked to my kid mom today, that was kinda hard
Sick of all the drama in my life, we ain't gotta start
How the fuck we still holding grudges, you ain't got a heart?
Either way a nigga life a movie and you got a part”
One of the things that I love about this album is Herbo showing love to the OG’s that helped pave the way for him to be in the current position that he’s in. His work is being noticed by such rap influences like Jadakiss. Some footage appeared on IG not too long ago of the two rappers linking up embracing and showing love for paying homage on Feelings.
Jadakiss - Still Feel Me
One of the most underrated records for me off PTSD was “High Speed”. On this record, we hear Herbo rapping about his last high speed chase he was involved in, detailing all of the thoughts that were going on through his head. One can debate that in the past, the drama between Ari and himself could have almost overshadowed his music career. But the release and impact of PTSD shows otherwise. No matter the situations that may have come up, G-Herbo shows that he can and will prevail amongst all distractions
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Meet James Teague, contributing writer to 247 Live Culture!