Vince the Messenger brings a thoughtful and poignant mix of bravado, aggression, and sensitivity to his sophomore effort Trustfall. This most recent set finds our Prince Edward Island MC striking a somber mix of confrontational and introspective as he unleashed his perspective to listeners.
Vince nails a very generalized sense of insecurity at its absolute core in the album’s intro when he laments: “Trust? Trust no one or should I trust them all? Trust? If I trust too much then my trust gon’ fall.”
This window into vulnerability weaves its way through the album and helps get at the centeerof who Vince is. He knows he is a talented performer but regardless of his many gifts, he finds himself wondering who he can feel comfortable putting his faith and trust into without risk of exposure and embarrassment. And with this simple musing, what could have on many albums been a thruway moment or the track you skip on your streaming service of choice now serves as notice of the albums underlying theme.
Vince is at his best when he uses his own experiences to present these relatable ideas. On “Gravity” he aims his pen at expectations and pressures. He takes a specifically hip hop slant to the idea but any listener has likely had experiences of taking care of a friend “I’ve held you down for too long” only to find yourself overcome by the weight of their and society’s demands on you.
Vince expertly mixes thought-provoking lyricism (one of his various strong suits) with his more classic, low-key beats and emotional awareness/acknowledgment that grants this particular set of songs an additional depth not always found within the hip-hop genre. While many artists feel the need to posture and pander in search of mass appeal, Vince the Messenger uses his medium to unsurprisingly get his message across.
”La Ville En Noire” showcases the disheartening turmoil of life modern person of colour: “Won’t meet you halfway, but I opened up the door for you”. In a dozen of words, Vince may have inadvertently stumbled upon the reason for most modern divides while describing his experiences as a black male.
Other album standouts include—but are not limited to—“One Man,” which strikes are dark tone as Vince exerts his independence to an arguably unhealthy extent after clearly being let down or feeling betrayed by those he once put his faith into, and “Swim or Drown” which portrays the uncertainty that can surround our friends as we pursue our goals in life. The anxiety you feel regarding whether or not they will lift you up or drag you down when things get challenging is an inherently relatable debate we all experience to some extent daily.
This collection finds Vince weaving his range of provocative, boisterous, and delicate thoughts into a very thoroughly crafted tapestry of insight. Trustfall grants fans, new and old alike, a very intimate glimpse of the artist’s inner workings. He holds little back and gives credence to his most self-assured and insecure moments. We are who we are due to this mix and by not withholding any parts of himself; Vince the Messenger has earned our trust.