Duckwrth. The artist. The lover. The muse. His name is just as signature as his sound.

The 32-year-old singer-songwriter from Southern California has been featured with artists such as Kendrick Lamar and has appeared on the timely show Insecure. Duckwrth has made a name for himself, operating in a sound space that’s unique, individual and of his own design.

In August 2020, Duckwrth released his second full length album SuperGood in August. It was an album released in a year, that for many, was quite unexpected. “My thoughts and ideas were so different from the 2020 we know now,” said Duckwrth detailing his plans for the year before COVID-19 hit, political tensions reached an all time high, and the insanity that continued throughout this year.

The album follows the journey of an alternative hip hop artist and his interaction with his crush. “A lot of it has to do with me taking this girl out on a date,” he laughed gently. This theme is continued throughout the album, reminiscing on their first time hanging out, also documenting the ups and downs of love. Though most of the songs might be about a relationship, Duckwrth has a more roundabout approach as far as his intention on when this album should be played and who it should reach. “It’s a rhythm project so I want people to dance to groove to bop....when you’re taking a shower, when you’re making love....,” said the artist in a press conference held by Republic Records. From his nod to legendary gospel group the Clark Sisters, the influences across the project are clear. The first track on the album “New Love Song" features a bridge mashup of lyrics from the Clark Sisters' record, “Jesus is a Love Song.”

“I wanted to give a nod to gospel music because that was the music of my early childhood. I recorded the rap part of it and then a bridge.” Gospel might be his starting point, but he also pulls from other musical influences. “The music that inspires me the most in the studio is like Soul Jazz. Gospel. Certain chord regressions resonate with me and it has a tendency to be those.”

He also makes a nod to Atlanta legendary hip-hip group, Outkast. “As a young person in South Central they showed me a different version of a Black creative and I could be comfortable in my own skin....I want to do that for this generation." While he does mention his gospel ties, if you’re trying to define the artist by one religion, he says it’s not that simple. “I’m not particularly Christian, but there’s something I’m supposed to be doing with my life and that’s to help humans.”

His bold lyrics in “Kiss U Right Now” are reflective of his overall style. The attitude that sometimes comes with artists who achieve a certain level of fame, the flexing --Duckwrth says he’s not buying into that. There’s no pretending. Such unapologetic embracing of self and truth is no doubt inspired by his environment. In addition to gospel music, Duckwrth went on to explain growing up in South Central L.A. “Growing up in LA especially in the 90s, 2000s. It’s beautiful. It’s sunny. It was always cracking. It’s kind of like it’s own tropic, but on the flip side there’s a lot of gang activity." Whether ducking bullets and drive-bys, going out on a date with that first love, or even struggling to find himself, Duckwrth said he wants to put it all into his art.

He called this year one of reflection.

“I learned I’m only as strong as the people around me. This album was definitely a collective creation.”

As an artist who has made a following for himself combining elements of funk, pop and above all soul. His newest album SuperGood is a vibe and it holds its name well. So, in the words from track 9, “Did you notice me?" Yes, we most certainly did notice you Duckwrth. And we at Adebukola.com are paying attention.