Stuff I've heard

A while ago, a friend of mine from university asked me to blog about a single that he was releasing. You might remember reading about that single, titled Invictus, here.

Harrison Thacker (160s), the artist behind that single, recently dropped his new album. And if you enjoyed Invictus, Soul: story of ur life* will be everything you want, and then some. It's an 11-track album, featuring a few other talented creatives, but the main focus of Soul is Harrison. He's written all the tracks himself, which is an accomplishment in and of itself in today's music industry, and the entire album tells an incredible story.

From a fast-paced introduction piece, to more lyrical styles featuring haunting melodies and choruses, to a finish that's as quick as the beginning, Soul: story of ur life takes the listener on a dazzling journey. Harrison writes his lyrics from a perspective that's easily understandable, particularly from that of a 20-something (which he is). He writes about love, loss, and the frustration, challenges, and rewards of breaking into the hip hop industry. Rather than using his energy to separate himself from his audience, he makes himself totally relatable and consequently, quite likeable. Listeners feel like they can understand this person, this condition, and that's a comfort. The plus side? Harrison doesn't leave us hanging onto what-if's and pipe dreams; he's proof that nothing is out of reach. And of course, Invictus makes an appearance.

It's really exciting for me to see this album come out, both because I know and respect Harrison and because it's a great album, plain and simple. I remember saying in my review of Invictus that I don't listen to much of this genre, but if there were more artists like Harrison, I would frequent it much more. This album will absolutely be one that I listen to often, and one I would recommend to anyone who's looking to expand his or her musical experience.

Soul: story of ur life is a phenomenal album, especially for a new, up and coming artist. It's full of spunk and character, in the best sort of way, and is a much needed reminder that good music is often unlike what we consider "mainstream." I remember Harrison burning copies of his EP for me and our other classmates in university, thinking he was talented and wondering if he'd make his dreams a reality.

He has. You should check it out, and go on this journey with him.

Soul: story of ur life is available for free download here. You can also find Harrison on Instagram, @iam16os. He'll be performing in Atlanta, GA this December.


*Please note that multiple tracks on Soul: story of ur life contain explicit language.

Stuff I've heard

I remember the first time I met Harrison Thacker. It was May 2010; we were both taking Performance of Poetry as a summer Rhetoric course. He performed original hip hop and rap pieces and in class discussions, would talk about his love for the genre and his dream to pursue hip hop professionally. I remember thinking that this guy was unlike anyone I'd ever met, that he managed to break all the hip hop stereotypes I had stored up inside me, and that he was hugely talented. We became friends.

Through his time at Georgia College, Harrison's passion for hip hop grew. He used it in his class assignments whenever possible, and his final senior project (we call them capstones) discussed the need for a hip-hop class in the Rhetoric department. Since his graduation from Georgia College last year, Harrison has been working hard to accomplish his goals, and today, he is one step closer.

Harrison's new single, Invictus*, and its accompanying music video have officially dropped! This is a project that I'm hugely excited to endorse, and it's one that I would recommend to anyone invested in the music community. Harrison's talent reaches beyond sheer ability - he has studied his craft and honed his skilled over the past years, and it's apparent through Invictus that he is going places.

The video is well-produced and fits perfectly with the tone and purpose of the song, and it gives Harrison the opportunity to showcase not only his gifts, but also to explain his purpose behind pursuing music. If you like it (and I'm pretty sure you will - I rarely listen to hip hop and the like, but I love Harrison's material), you can follow his Instagram, @iam160s, to keep up with his projects. Invictus is also available for download (explicit and edited versions available) here.

Congratulations, Harrison! Thank you so much for letting me be part of this release; I can't wait to see what's next for you!


Note that the official Invictus song includes explicit language.