GR3G’s New Track “Wasted Talent” Proves He’s Not Wasting His Talent

GR3G’s New Track “Wasted Talent” Proves He‘s Not Wasting His Talent

On June 10th, independent Chicago-based artist GR3G released his debut EP, Wasted Talent! Leading the charge and opening the EP is the titular track, “Wasted Talent.” The track “follows [GR3G’s] personal story on the Southside, Chicago from childhood to the present day” of how his violin and musicianship has kept him persevering as “not only an artist but a person through the ups and downs of life.” Over a violin-centered instrumental, GR3G waxes poetic about struggles within the city he comes from as well as a family move to Minnesota, and that instrumental is what draws the listener into the song.

Much like instrumentals from J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Freddie Gibbs, GR3G takes his violin background and builds a beat around pensive strings, simple bass, and a Super Mario Sunshine sample. The instrumental kicks off with the violin fading in from underneath a simple bass line and the aforementioned sample, and this pensivity and simplicity gives GR3G the room to tell his story. Like a film score, the beat of “Wasted Talent” sucks in the listener and adds the necessary layer of emotional resonance for GR3G’s words to hit as strongly as they can.

As GR3G says, he is looking to “raise awareness to internal struggles within the African American community” as well as continue his work as a “social justice advocate.” “Wasted Talent” does an excellent job of raising a lens to the community GR3G comes from and taking a sympathetic approach to his analysis. He thanks the teachers who pushed him to pursue music. He questions whether or not music can get him where he wants to go, but he also acknowledges that his perceived alternatives are not quite as good.

“Wasted Talent” is a portrait of an individual using music to get his thoughts out there, and his thoughts are as nuanced as they are unique. Check out the track below, and be sure to listen to the full Wasted Talent EP as well. GR3G is becoming one to watch in a city that has blossomed more than a few careers, and I can’t wait to see where he goes.