“Genesis Owusu bringing Kafka to funk - Struggler Album Review”
Rising Funk & Punk artist Genesis Owusu delivers his first album in two years after the initial release of his debut album in 2021, “Smiling with No Teeth”. Launching his second full length album, amongst what is turning out to be a packed late summer release schedule in 2023 for many artists, Owusu tears into modern society again with his newest album titled “Struggler”. Keeping in the vein of his beautifully constructed signature funk melodies Owusu continues to
blend in hard hitting punk inspired lyrics into his music this time tackling themes of burden, futility, & frustration.
Owusu creates a wonderfully unique entry in the funk genre as he narrates the voice of the album as a ‘roach’ & ‘pest’ living in society. Truly earning his place as a punk influenced artist; the album is directly inspired by Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”. Owusu sings about being a pest angry at god in a world that’s too large and uncaring to be free. With songs like “The Roach” & “Freak Boy” he brings a new meaning to Kafkaesque lyricism. The songs deliver vicious verses like, “A bug in the cog of a grey-walled cancer”, “Always watched but never seen said my skin was never clean”, & “Legs in the air, hope god don’t attack”. The lyrics are especially poignant over the rhythmic drum grooves and bassline in the funk melody. The album is drenched in feelings of being seen as small or repulsive and being put down by everything around you.
The narrator searches for purpose and an outlet for the frustration in an up and down struggle throughout the course of the album. However, never letting the role of pest get him down as he manages to see the light by bringing us with him through the struggle. With soul influenced songs like “See Ya There” & “What Comes Will Come”; he keeps us moving through the problems with the lyrics “Don’t wanna turn out just like you hating everything that you do,” & “roach, keep runnin’, keep runnin’”.
The album is also a lead up to Owusu’s upcoming “Struggler” tour starting October 12th for the first leg in North America before heading to Europe in late November and finishing in his home country of Australia for the last leg in December. He will be joined periodically throughout the tour by the American rap duo, EarthGang.
The album “Struggler” is currently available to stream on spotify, apple music, & other music retailers. Music videos for songs from the new album “Leaving the Light”, “Tied Up”,