Pat Junior's Grinning with his Latest, Gold Fangs on Sunday

Reaching Top Ten on the iTunes Hip-Hop Charts to landing a performing spot on NPR music to reaching 5,000 streams on audiomack would be a dream come true for most indie artists. Luckily for Raleigh, North Carolina native Pat Junior, his dreams have manifested into his reality. The multi-talented rapper holds many titles; song writer, visionary, producer, and sound designer. Pat Junior’s consistency, creative vision, and ability to build solid relationships has allowed him the opportunity to perform at major festivals such as Hopscotch and Art of Cool Fest, open up for Brooklyn-based rapper Oddisee and collaborate with Grammy-award winning producer Hit-Boy.

Known for his ability to offer introspective, honest and vulnerable lyrics, his most recent album, Gold Fangs on Sunday, does just that but also offers a refreshing uplifting motivational vibe. The album’s artwork hints at the joy that exists within the music as the rapper flaunts a wide infectious smile. “Black Beamin’” and “You Were Never Broken'' are two standout tracks.

Released as the first single, “Black Beamin’” shifts away from the more militant sounds of Black protest songs and instead celebrates the beauty of Black people and encourages self-love.  “We’ve been beautiful since birth/been on the come up learning worth/so fly and we don’t land/ all Black women and Black man/ we Black beaming/ shining and dreaming” sings R&B songstress DL Zene.

On “You Were Never Broken” the rapper pens a love letter to his wife and opens up about the infertility struggles they’ve had to navigate together. “In my journey of going through that experience with [my wife] I had to learn what my role and what my responsibilities were for her, and it’s not just about me being encouraging,” shared Pat Junior. I had to really learn how to give her space to feel anything and acknowledge her feelings by giving her a place to be sad. And then, once I found the right words, I could encourage her”. 

With a diverse music palette that ranges from traditional hip-hop to movie composers, it is no surprise that included in his top 5 is Canadian rapper Shad K.  After meeting at a concert, the two were able to connect and collaborate on Pat Junior’s last project, I Thought I knew. 

For Gold Fangs on Sunday sonically Pat Junior’s music offers a little bit of everything, and as always the production is immaculate! Over the last few years he has managed to reflect within regarding his purpose more and more. “What I know I've discovered as far as my music is concerned, is that I want my music and my art to work for the well being of other people”, he said. “This project is a step in the right direction of that”. 

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Author: Kyesha Jennings

Photo Credit: Jess | @fbvisualss