Three years after the world first heard his unique vocal stylings displayed on its widest platform yet, thanks to FOX’s hit show ‘Empire,’ actor/singer Jussie Smollett is finally ready to find freedom outside of the series and stand by his lonesome.
With years of teasing in its wake, Smollett’s kicked off his 2018 with the unveiling of his official first single, ‘Freedom.’ The leading release from his debut album, ‘Sum of My Music’ [March 2], the organ and synth-soaked song’s instrumentation may be unembellished but that undoubtedly lets his vocals take center stage.
See what we mean inside:
A beautiful composition, the song – on the conceptual – seems very “Jussie” in that it grabs you lyrically and vocally keeps you intrigued (even if only out of curiosity). But, for as much as we can appreciate that, we have to admit the song – on the instrumental tip – feels like a long road to nowhere. The music lends this anticipatory build that never seems to manifest.
Long story short: good song, yes. First single material/worth a 3 year wait? The jury’s still out.
Click the photo below to purchase ‘Freedom’:
Two words: Corn Knee
^^ nothing about this song is corny. i hate that we live in a world that so many people sing about S-E-XXX so much that when people sing genuine love songs it’s considered corny
boring? yes. cute? yes. corny? no.
How you call a song boring but you’re trying to stick up for it. Thanks for proving my point loser!
name-calling unnecessary.
something can be boring without being corny. i find most sports outside football to be boring but that doesn’t make them corny.
grow up
It’s corny.
He can keep it……
Eh. Song is nice but he is boring
Stick with acting. That’s where you excel (and that’s not saying much) and now where the money is (which you could make pretty good for a black actor in this day and time). Don’t play yourself
2 Words. Trey Songz.
I thought I was the only one who thought that.
Ooop! Y’all mad ?
I’m not saying he’s got a voice like Bruno. However it’s interesting how you all will berate and slice the throats of anyone who critcises your fave female artists (who are probably homophobic behind closed doors)….yet have nothing positive to say about this q**** POC who represents the vast majority of TGJ readers. ? he’s breaking doors open and creating a lane for future lgbt artists of color and I can applaud and appreciate that for its own sake.
On another note I do find his excessive display of cleavage a kiiiiiii ?? Werk Jussie !
*q u e e.r
you’ve got off topic, hun. first off, everyone gets read. the females they stan for, the ones they don’t, & the guys, including jussie.
secondly, that’s great he’s a q**** POC, but that doesn’t make an uninteresting song suddenly interesting. that’s gonna get read too. when you’re a musician or an artist, if your music sucks, it’s going to be criticized no matter how great a person you are because we’re not going to play you on the radio or stream youfor being a great person.
we’ve waited three years for him to put out music, and it has yet to deliver. when he puts out something good, he’ll get his praises, but even then he will be criticized.
Gurl. Shut your oppression a** up. It ain’t that serious.
My thoughts exactly & IMO his sister husband has a better singing tone, he’s a singer & sounds amazing but I see where Lee Daniels is going trying to get LGBTQ artist a way into this generation musical curve!!
Better actor than singer.
I enjoy him on empire but often find something to do during his singing parts.
His voice is all the flaws of Usher’s mixed with the goatness of Trey Songsz just rough and scratchy when he reaches for certain notes.
Uptempos suite him better.
The song is terrible too. He has to step it up musically. We’ve been getting fire from everybody since about 2013. Despite what people may say. He’s had his deal this long and this is the first single? ???
Every time I hear him sing, I feel like he’s one second away from embracing his inner sheep with a delicate “baaa…” complete with all the vocal shakiness and high tone realness
?????
For anybody to say he can’t sing or isn’t a better singer than “said artist”, are haters. The boy can clearly sing his ass off. It’s just the material. He’s one of those artist that have to have a identity that’s relateable, if not he won’t be understood. He needs a sound and looks that’s gonna grab the public’s attention. Honestly I think him not singing as much on the show would make more sense if he wants ppl to truly separate the fictional artist from who he’s trying to be.
The song is beautiful okay, so please can yo just hold it right there