Ryan Trey

Exclusive: Ryan Trey Reflects on New Deluxe Album Release and Creative Journey

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Ryan Trey Reflects on New Deluxe Album Release and Creative Journey

Emerging R&B artist Ryan Trey doubled down in March with the release of the deluxe version of his stellar November 2023 album, STREETS SAY YOU MISS ME. The expanded edition features new tracks that delve into the unexpected twists and turns of Ryan’s early twenties, offering a lyrical narrative of his personal journey.

The deluxe version of “STREETS SAY YOU MISS ME” showcases Ryan Trey’s growth as an artist and his ability to connect with listeners through his music. The new tracks add depth to the album’s themes, exploring themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

In an exclusive conversation with The Source, Ryan Trey opened up about the success of the album and his creative process. He shared insights into how he feels about releasing his work to the world and the impact it has had on him personally.

Congratulations on releasing the deluxe edition of your debut album, Streets Say You Still Miss Me! How does it feel to have this project out in the world, especially with the bonus tracks?

Ryan Trey: It feels really good! That was a project that I really worked hard on. I think it’s my most complete body of work. It’s a project I came to Atlanta to do to really incorporate that collaborative effort that Atlanta has as far as producers working together and artists working together. I feel like that’s something you don’t get anywhere else. This is the most features I’ve ever had on my project, so it’s dope. In terms of the Deluxe, there were two long-awaited songs that were leaked: “Reset” and “Ridin 4 U,” so I feel like my fans were super excited about hearing the actual mixed versions of those records in full.

The trailer for Streets Say You Still Miss Me gave fans a glimpse into the emotional journey of the album. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the visuals and the message you wanted to convey?

The trailer represented me being at odds with my best friend in my life. It starts off with me being with a girl next to me, and then me being in that same place without her. That’s kind of how Atlanta was for both of us. We were both in Atlanta, and we went through some things, and I ended up having to finish that project in a place we both came to damn near together. The symbolism of a female figure starting off in the trailer and disappearing signifies that situation. That’s where that trailer comes from.

Could you share with us the creative process behind the project and the themes of the album?

The album’s theme was about my experience going through a breakup with someone I was super close with, and it was all about us being at odds for the first time. It almost felt like we were just going to war with each other about internal things within the relationship as far as my loyalty and her being anxious about certain environments I’m in as an artist and all those types of things, so we ended up breaking up. We were going through a rough patch, hearing things about each other while we were both outside trying to get over each other. That’s where the title ‘Streets Say You Miss Me’ comes from, because even though we were both trying to move on, everyone else was saying we still miss each other. I always also say that to me, this project was a bunch of excuses because I still feel like, as the guy, I was wrong in a lot of areas, but that kind of goes into my next project. The next project is more mature. But all in all, it was just an emotional battle with someone close to me, and that’s where the title draws inspiration from.

Since its release in November 2023, Streets Say You Still Miss Me has garnered over 9.8 million total streams. What has been the most rewarding aspect of seeing your music resonate with listeners on such a large scale?

It’s two things! When people DM me and message me saying that certain records helped them understand certain situations, whether it’s about me as an artist or their personal relationship. When guys see me and they’re like, “This is exactly how I was feeling,” or girls see me and say, “You were actually honest about this on this record,“ I like those responses. Also the live performances. Hearing people sing your songs back to you live means they feel them emotionally more than just listening to them. I think that’s dope.

The album features collaborations with other artists, such as Mariah The Scientist on “Ain’t Even Friends.” How do these collaborations enhance the overall narrative and sound of the album?

I felt, specifically with Mariah, that this album wouldn’t have been complete without a woman’s perspective. I didn’t want to masculate it too much to the point where it’s just my side of things, so I felt like having a woman on the song who’s probably also been through heartbreak and has the best perspective on how women go about those situations made the song what it is. It certainly wouldn’t have been complete without her, and she did the track justice for sure.

Your singles “More Than Sorry” and “30 Floors Up” have been particularly well-received. Can you walk us through the creative process behind these tracks and what they mean to you personally?

“MORE THAN SORRY” is probably the most apologetic record I’ve done next to “REDWING DRIVE” that’s on the album. “MORE THAN SORRY” is me really just venting about not being the best boyfriend at the time but trying to be now. “30 Floors Up” is more of a record about turning your girl up, exploring the sexual side of things as far as feeling that type of way towards the person you like, and spending that quality time with them. Those are two emotions I was able to hit on the album that I felt like were needed. 

Streets Say You Still Miss Me touches on themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. How much of your own experiences and emotions did you pour into this album?

I poured all my own experiences and emotions into the album. I think an important lesson I’ve learned is to not take advice from other people who’ve been through heartbreak because everyone’s situation is unique. For example, If you are trying to get your girl back or something, you can’t go ask your guy friends for advice that have never had a serious relationship or are currently enjoying their single life. They’re ultimately going to give you their perspective based on that. You also have girls that will maybe tell you that you’ll never be able to mend a relationship due to their own experiences with heartbreak. When I was getting both of those sides, neither of those things happened. I ended up getting a girl back, working it out and even going through more stuff, so it’s just so unique to my own experiences. I always tell people, you just have to go through it.

Looking ahead, what can fans expect from you in terms of future projects or collaborations? Are there any new directions you’re excited to explore in your music?

I’m just chasing the 18-year-old me again in this next on this next album. I feel like ‘STREETS SAY YOU STILL MISS ME’ is a great album, but it narrates the peak of guys making excuses. It was an album that spoke to me taking accountability for messing up but also acknowledging the mistakes of the other person. The direction I’m working on now is taking full responsibility, and it’s just a really sweet album. I keep telling people I’m in my Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez era, like my ‘Journals’ era where I’m just trying to reset and get my inner child back — that middle school, high school type of love. Not pointing a finger or anything but just straight boyfriend mode, releasing that toxic energy.  I feel like that’s what’s missing in the game right now, so that’s the lane I’m about to go down.

The post Exclusive: Ryan Trey Reflects on New Deluxe Album Release and Creative Journey first appeared on The Source.

The post Exclusive: Ryan Trey Reflects on New Deluxe Album Release and Creative Journey appeared first on The Source.

Broccoli City Festival 2023 Weathered The Elements For A Hectic, Yet Satisfying Showcase

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Broccoli City Fest 2023
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Broccoli City Festival returned in 2023 with plays to take over a summer weekend, a change from its usual spring presence. The showcase, which was known to open its doors in May, opted to push things back to July this time around. Rumor has it that this change was done with the hopes of avoiding any rain delays that the spring season might have to offer. Unfortunately, Mother Nature proved to be the superior force as the weather played a role on both days of the festival this year.

This year’s showcase was headlined by Lil Uzi Vert, Jazmine Sullivan, and Brent Faiyaz, artists, who in recent years, have reached new heights in their careers. Behind them were slated performances from Asake, Rema, Chlöe, Coco Jones, Kodak Black, Mariah The Scientist, Ice Spice, City Girls, Keke Palmer, Saucy Santana, GloRilla, Lola Brooke, and more – and that was just the main stage. A smaller stage housed performances from Foggieraw, Ryan Trey, OG Bobby Billions, LaRussell, and others. Add in activations for some fun throughout the festival and food options throughout the outskirts of Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium, and you have all the ingredients to put on a successful showcase.

So now that the weekend is over, let’s take a look back at the highs and lows of the 2023 Broccoli City Festival.

HIGH: Afrobeats

On the performance side of things, afrobeats was the winner at this year’s Broccoli City Festival. The genre was only presented by two artists for the weekend, Rema and Asake, but they put on a show to remember through their sets. On day one was Rema who arrived to perform highlights from his discography like “Holiday,” “Charm,” “Soundgasm,” “Dumebi,” “Bounce,” and of course, the record-breaking “Calm Down.” Rema was nothing short of charismatic and energetic on the Broccoli Stage as he consistently flashed a smile to the crowd while showing off his slick dance as his live band ripped through the instrumentals of his song. If you need to be convinced to go to a Rema show, his Broccoli City Festival set made a very convincing argument.

On day two, the afrobeats energy was brought forth by Asake who made interactions with the crowd a priority during his. He spent nearly half of his set by the front row barricade and in the open space that divided the VIP and general admission sections. There was even a point where he entered the general admission crowd from the back and worked his way to the front through them, which provided an up close and personal experience for his biggest fans. Asake pierced through beloved records like “Terminator,” “Sungba,” and “Joha,” before debuting records from his new album Work Of Art.

Rema and Asake went above and beyond to put on a show in their respective sets, and it’s for that reason that afrobeats gets the crown as the winner of this year’s Broccoli City Festival.

Rema Broccoli City Fest 2023
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LOW: Logistics

This year’s Broccoli City Festival had some logistical flaws throughout the weekend that affected the overall experience of the weekend. First, fans who had to pick up their wristbands through will call at the festival were subjected to a wait that lasted over an hour in many cases. Broccoli City officials did apologize for the wait and promised changes for day two. Things at the entry point did seem to run smoother on day two, but then again, most attendees already had their wristbands by that point.

Some other issues included an insufficient amount of water cooling and fan stations throughout the festivals. Both days experienced temperatures into the 90s, but the cooling and fan stations were few in number. Though, the main stage security team made sure to supply water to the crowd which hopefully helped a bit.

HIGH: Day Two

Day two of Broccoli City Festival was by far the best day of this year’s showcase. The performers were on point from start to finish. There was the previously-mentioned stellar performance from Asake and there was Coco Jones who earned herself a viral moment by performing “Rain On Me” as raindrops poured from the sky. Kodak Black and GloRilla satisfied hip-hop lovers with their performances and OG Bobby Billions and Ryan Trey impressed with their sets at the smaller City Stage. Things moved smoother on a logistical end as fans were able to get into the festival without issue, and unlike day two, the weather cooperated to allow for the festival to go through from start to finish without interruption. As the saying goes, it’s not how you start but how you finish.

LOW: Heat & Humidity

This isn’t much to blame on Broccoli City Festival itself, but my goodness the heat and humidity was serious on both days of the festival. A towel at least was needed, but attendees who brought personal fans (especially the ones with water mist), were in the best position to defend themselves. The sun relentlessly beaming above us and the humidity standing beside made it a bit difficult to enjoy what the festival had to offer. Frequent water breaks were needed as were any and all things to stay cool and hydrated. The plus side here was with the festival getting underway at 2 p.m. each day, a bit later than other festivals, there were fewer hours of peak sunlight to endure before the sun, along with the heat and humidity, made its way out of our presence for the day.

Brent Faiyaz Broccoli City Fest 2023
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HIGH: Brent Faiyaz, The Hometown Hero

I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with Brent Faiyaz’s set to close the festival weekend. The singer, who along with Broccoli City calls the DMV home, stepped out to use the weekend showcase as the kickoff moment for his F*ck The World, It’s A Wasteland Tour. For the most part, Brent stuck to records from F*ck The World and Wasteland, though he did reach back into his discography for older and more one-off releases. From start to finish, Brent’s vocals were fully present for his performance and they were rarely drowned out by a backing track. He also opted for a live band that only amplified the experience that had its tone and mood set by onstage visuals that fit perfectly with the theme of Wasteland. Brent didn’t keep this moment to himself either, he made sure to share the stage with fellow DMV artists Joony and Tre’Armani as they joined him for performances of “FYTB” and “Addictions.” If Broccoli City was a dress rehearsal for Brent’s F*ck The World, It’s A Wasteland Tour, then I suggest you do what you can to get tickets.

LOW: Small Stage

The main action at Broccoli City Festival year took place at the Broccoli Stage. All the big names brought their best through performances there, but there were still a number of acts worth paying attention to at the City Stage, the festival’s smaller stage. Foggieraw was there to perform his beloved track “Pslam 62” while Ryan Trey performed fan favorites and even brought out Mariah The Scientist! Other names like OG Bobby Billions delivered solid sets as TiaCorine and Lola Brooke also highlighted performances at this stage. With all that being said, the City Stage could have had a better set up for these performances. It wasn’t the most inviting display, which would’ve been a nice quality to reel in fans to discover a new artist. The canopy that sat over the stage and audience space was certainly clutch for the rain, but more could’ve been added to the experience to make it more presentable.

Final Thought:

Broccoli City Festival was a hectic weekend, but in the end, it was a satisfying showcase. Strong performances from Asake, Rema, Ice Spice, Brent Faiyaz, Chloe Bailey, Coco Jones, and others made it all worthwhile — especially when the dastardly sun set for the day or was at least covered by clouds. Some improvements are definitely in store for the next edition of the festival, but the highs and lows of Broccoli City shouldn’t deter you from checking out their next showcase, especially if the necessary changes are made.

All The Best New R&B Music From This Week

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Sampha 2018 Parklife Festival
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Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B and Afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.

Sampha finally made his return, one that fans waited six years for, with his new single “Spirit 2.0” while The Weeknd warned of the dangers of “False Idols” on his new song with Lil Baby and Suzanna Son. Victoria Monet officially announced her Jaguar II project and HER announced the return of her Lights On Festival for 2023. Elsewhere, Jon Batiste announced his World Music Radio album, Beyoncé dropped limited-edition merch for her Renaissance Tour with Amazon, and Patrick Star from SpongeBob Squarepants is on TikTok singing classic R&B songs thanks to AI.

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

Terrace Martin — Fine Tune

On his new album Fine Tune, Terrace Martin has one goal: develop new talent and incorporate the legacy of jazz. Fine Tune is the first of six jazz albums that Martin will release throughout 2023 and this one checks in with 12 songs besides Alex Isley, Keyon Harold, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, James Fauntleroy, and more.

Robert Glasper — “What Love Can Do”

Robert Glasper and Derrick Hodge joined forces to curate the music for season 1 of Run The Girls in 2021. Now they’re back to compose the music for season two the first offering from that batch is here with “What Love Can Do” with Emily King.

Tone Stith — “Girls Like You”

Tone Stith has one of the best voices in the R&B game and it seems like he could be getting ready to release his fifth project. That sign comes with the release of “Girls Like You,” a record that Stith uses to detail the effects that a bad relationship had on his approach to love with future partners.

Jordan Hawkins & DUCKWRTH — “Can’t Fake What You Feel”

Jordan Hawkins is just a few months removed from the release of his 4Play EP, but that isn’t stopping him from sharing new music. He’s back with “Can’t Fake What You Feel” with DUCKWRTH which strikes as an upbeat number perfect to groove to this summer.

Ryan Trey — “Ain’t Even Friends” Feat. Mariah The Scientist

It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from Ryan Trey, but the Kentucky native is finally back with his new single “Ain’t Even Friends” alongside Mariah The Scientist. Together, the singers blend their talents for a reflective record about a love they lost in their lives.

Kenyon Dixon — “Lucky”

Kenyon Dixon is having quite the active year. He dropped a remix of Jon Vinyl’s “Pressure,” shared his “Slow Dancing” single with Kincy, and later shared a remix of it with Kevin Ross. Now he’s back with “Lucky,” a song that sees Dixon praise a new woman in his life and all the qualities that made him fall in love with her.

Sekou — Out Of Mind

Meet UK singer Sekou who has slowly made waves in the rising R&B community and now he’s arrived with his debut project Out Of Mind. Through its five songs, Sekou blends jazz and pop with R&B for what strikes as a captivating body of work. “I wanted to have creative freedom on this and do something different from what I’ve done before,” Sekou said about the project.

Spinall — “Loju” Feat. Wizkid

Four months after releasing his Top Boy album, producer Spinall returns to team up with Wizkid for a third time with their new song “Loju.” The vibrant record is matched with a colorful video that’s set at a house party flushed with flashy cars and beautiful dancers.

Reggie Becton, Slim & Ye Ali — “Rm. 143 (Rm112 Remix)” Feat. 112

After reaching 10 million streams with “Rm. 143,” Reggie Becton is celebrating the feat with a remix of the track that features Slim 112 and Ye Ali. It’s a smooth blend of yesterday’s and today’s R&B that’s boosted by a bad-boy intro from Ye Ali.

Elmiene — “Mad At Fire”

Elmiene is just three months removed from his El-Mean EP, but now the singer has found himself a new home. Elmiene just inked a deal with Def Jam, and with that, came the release of his new single “Mad At Fire.” Co-written with Syd and Lil Silva, Elmiene’s voice fills up the room through a blend of soul and avant-garde electronic music.

Lah Pat — “Kamikaze”

Months removed from getting a boost thanks to the remix of “Rodeo” with Flo Milli, Lah Pat is back in action with his new single “Kamikaze.” The New Orleans-born and Houston-based singer delivers a seductive banger that dips a toe into ’90s neo-soul.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Ryan Trey Implores A Potential Lover In His ‘Only Us’ Video Featuring Babyface Ray

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St. Louis rapper-singer Ryan Trey is having quite the breakout. A trapsoul crooner in the mold of 6lack and Bryson Tiller, Ryan Trey has made a name for himself by blending booming, washed-out beats with a vocal delivery that swings easily from melodic rapping to all-out belting. Last year, he dropped his debut album, A 64 East Saga, accumulating more attention and plenty of streams. Today, he teams up with another rising Midwesterner to kick off his next phase, tapping Detroit’s Babyface Ray for “Only Us,” a single of sultry come-ons for a potential paramour.

In an interview with Billboard earlier this year, he remarked on the similarity that some fans have noticed between him and Bryson Tiller, with whom he collaborated on “Nowhere to Run.” “I didn’t intentionally mean for that to sound that similar, but if that’s the record where I pay homage to Bryson, then that’s great, honestly,” he said. “Bryson is someone who really opened a lot of doors for me. I don’t ever mind the constant comparisons, because it’s just human nature to compare artists to the closest similar thing to them at first. For example, I love Don Toliver, but it took me this most recent project he just dropped for me to completely separate him from Travis Scott. It’s just human nature. So I’m never bothered by the comparisons because even I do it as a fan.”

You can check out Ryan Trey’s new single, “Only Us” featuring Babyface Ray, above.

Ryan Trey Grooves Through A Live Performance Of ‘It’s About A Girl’ For ‘UPROXX Sessions’

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Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, today’s guest on UPROXX Sessions is 21-year-old rapper-singer, Ryan Trey. With his album A 64 East Saga on the way, Ryan drops by the Uproxx Studios office to give a soulful performance of the project single “It’s About A Girl.” Over a muddy, swirling synth and hardcore kick drum, Ryan salutes a girl he describes as “top two, but you’re not two,” praising her for “changin’ keys on the regular.”

Dropping his debut album EIGHT24 in 2018, Ryan has continued building a following of loyal supporters, which include fellow Midwesterners Bryson Tiller and LeBron James. He’s also set to open for Jack Harlow for Sprite’s Live From The Label concert series this Wednesday, which could be the start of a star run that could soon put him in a similar position to the one Harlow currently occupies.

Watch Ryan Trey’s live performance of “It’s About A Girl” for UPROXX Sessions above.

UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.