Once in a while, an artist comes along that sticks out in every single way, seemingly taking influence from everyone and no one at the same time. Many of these artists(like Tyler the Creator, Lil Peep, Lil Uzi Vert, and Playboi Carti, for instance) end up significantly impacting music, fashion, and pop culture in general. They may not be accepted and loved by the masses when they first emerge onto the scene; eventually, their influence on the artists around them ends up helping them reach superstardom in their own right because fans realize who their favorite artists are drawing inspiration from. Teezo Touchdown is an artist who fits this description perfectly. Everything about this guy stands out, and he has been seen as one to watch by a lot of high-profile acts in Hip Hop and Alternative music for a while now. From his eccentric outfits(which often include nails weaved into his clothes and hair) to his seemingly genre-less music, there is no one like Teezo Touchdown. After releasing music under multiple other names in the early 2010s, Teezo burst onto the scene in 2017 and 2018, when two of his self-produced mixtapes gained a lot of attention in underground Alternative music communities on Soundcloud. In 2019, his song ‘100 drums’ went viral, garnering him attention from national musical publications and getting him noticed by a lot of prominent Alternative Hip Hop artists. Throughout 2020-2022, he released a few stand-alone singles that went viral and he was featured on multiple Tyler The Creator songs; he was also featured on Lil Yachty’s 2023 album Let’s Start Here and Travis Scott’s album Utopia, with his performances on these songs being some of the most highly praised on the projects. During this time, he also got recognized in the fashion world and was selected to model at several high-profile fashion shows. All of this has led up to the release of Teezo Touchdown’s debut album How Do You Sleep At Night? Here is how I feel about that record. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from How Do You Sleep At Night?, and also comment on how you feel about the album as a whole.

‘OK’ starts the album on a note that is already unlike music that is being made by anyone else right now. This instrumental for this track has an Alternative Rock sound that reminds me a lot of the late 1990s. When I hear this instrumental, I immediately think of bands like Weezer or Third Eye Blind. This is a style of music that I have an affinity for, so I can appreciate this instrumental. The instrumental is driven by a chunky and slow guitar riff that is put on a slow, pounding beat that would be perfect for a kickback. It has the kind of sound that pumps me up and chills me out at the same time. Teezo Touchdown’s vocal performance on this track is certainly interesting. He raps the verses with a fast flow that sits on the instrumental pretty strangely and sings the chorus in an animated way that feels so gritty and Punk Rock. ‘OK’ is a rebellious track where Teezo Touchdown is stating that he is going to do whatever he wants and be who he wants to be. ‘You Thought,’ which features Janelle Monáe, has an instrumental that constantly changes itself. Even though his song is only 3:01, it feels like the song is ten minutes long because of the way the instrumental changes. The first section of the song has an old-school Reggae-infused Funk sound with no vocals on it; this Funk sound quickly devolves into Rap-Metal, with Teezo Touchdown rapping with a staccato flow over an abrasive Metal beat. These first two sections of the instrumental only take about a minute, with the last two-thirds of the song taking on a different sound from what precedes it. The last two-thirds of the song has a calm Neo-R&B sound that reminds me a lot of Frank Ocean. This sweet guitar-driven R&B melody sounds like it belongs on the album Blond. Teezo Touchdown and Janelle Monáe’s vocals are excellent in this section. The way their vocals contrast each other gives the song so much texture and life. On ‘You Thought,’ Teezo and Janelle are singing about a bad relationship with someone who does not appreciate or trust them in the way that they need. ‘UUHH’ is a song that fuses multiple genres that I would not expect to hear mixed with each other. There are elements of this song that make me think of Post-Grunge-Rap artists like Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock, there are elements of the song that make me think of 80s Stadium Rock artists like Bon Jovi, and there are elements of the track that are reminiscent of Southern Gospel-infused R&B music. There is even a synth-driven section at the end of the track that has an 80s New Wave feeling to it. This fusion of sounds makes ‘UUHH’ one of the most unique songs I have heard in a while. This song has a cool and interesting sound that should not work but somehow does. Teezo Touchdown’s vocal performance on ‘UUHH’ is captivating; he shows off his vocal range on this track, and the way he constantly switches his flow and pitch keeps the listener engaged. On ‘UUHH,’ is trying to convince his potential significant other to take a chance on him. He believes that they will be great together, and wants the chance to show them why he feels this way. ‘Sweet,’ which features Fousheè, goes in a completely different direction than the first three songs on the record. This is the most tame and cookie-cutter song on the album to this point, taking on a calm R&B sound that immediately makes me think of the late 1990s. When I hear this instrumental, I think of artists like Anthony Hamilton or Jodeci. The song is driven by a funky and cozy guitar riff that is put over a classic Hip Hop beat. Both of the vocal performances on this song are great. I love how Fousheè’s sultry and sweet vocals contrast with the husky and rough tone that Teezo Touchdown sings with. ‘Sweet,’ is a cute love song where Teezo and Fousheè are appreciating how much they relate to their significant other. I have to say that it is interesting that the best song on the record so far is the most simple one. It shows how talented Teezo can be if he hones in and settles down. ‘Impossible’ takes on a Pop-Rock sound that is also nothing like anything that precedes it. When this track comes on, I immediately think of 2010s Alternative/Indie Rock artists like Two Door Cinema Club or The Wombats. The song is driven by an easy-going and smooth upbeat guitar riff that has a bright and sunny tone. This guitar riff is put on a light and fast drum beat that fits the energy of the melody perfectly. Unfortunately, the thing that drags ‘Impossible’ down in the vocal performance. The vocal performance on this song is pretty rough, especially in the first half. The low-pitched and abrasive tone that Teezo sings with in the first half of the song just does not fit its sound. The vocals in the second half are not much better, and Teezo’s off-kilter delivery feels too animated for this instrumental. On ‘Impossible,’ Teezo Touchdown is singing about realizing you are not meant to be the thing you think you are meant to be. Sometimes you have to try and fail to realize that you just can not do something that you want to do, and that is okay.

‘Neighborhood’ is the third song in a row that goes in a totally different direction than anything before it. This track has a Funky R&B sound that is immediately reminiscent of artists like Earth Wind and Fire or Chic. This song also has a Dance music element to it that makes me think of Daft Punk. In fact, I could totally see this instrumental being on their Random Access Memories album. The song is driven by a groovy guitar riff and bass line that are put on top of a quick House music beat. This is the kind of instrumental that could get any dance floor jumping. The vocal performance on ‘Neighborhood’ is not quite as abrasive as the one on ‘Impossible,’ but I do feel like once again it sort of drags the instrumental down. Usually, these kinds of instrumentals will have higher-pitched vocals that slide on the instrumental, and the lower tone that Teezo sings with sort of contrasts the instrumental in the wrong way. I also don’t love the fire alarm squeak noise that comes in the first verse. I understand that it goes with the lyrics, but it is just weird and unattractive. Speaking of the lyrics, on ‘Neighborhood,’ Teezo Touchdown is singing about shutting everyone out of his life because he wants to be alone. Teezo Touchdown sticks with the Funk music theme he had going on ‘Neighborhood’ on the song ‘Mood Swings.’ This song does have a New Wave element that makes it stand out from the last track. The song is driven by a sleek guitar riff that is complemented by a bunch of synths and is put on a retro R&B drum beat. On the bridge of this track, the instrumental devolves into a chunky Heavy Metal sound for a bit. I enjoy this portion of the track a lot, as it gives the song texture and sounds the best with Teezo Touchdown’s vocals. Speaking of the vocals, this is an additional track where for the most part Teezo’s vocals bring the instrumental down a bit. I appreciate that Teezo is trying to mix things up by singing like this on a funk song, but it does not work out super well in my opinion. On ‘Mood Swings,’ Teezo Touchdown is singing about how little things can ruin his day and bring him down. Everything can be going well, then one bad thing happens and it makes everything bad. ‘Too Easy,’ which features Isaiah Rusk, brings back the 80s Punk Rock sound that Teezo was excelling at early in the record. The melody for the first two-thirds of this track is an interpolation of the iconic 2 Live Crew song ‘We Want Some P*ssy.’ The melody of the song during this section sounds as if The Ramones or The Clash were covering that track. Towards the end of ‘Too Easy’, the instrumental completely changes, taking on a warm and slow R&B Trap sound that makes me think of artists like 6lack or Don Toliver. The vocal performances on this song are great, going so well with the energy of the track. Teezo Touchdown especially shines on this track, showing how diverse he can be as a vocalist on the two completely different sections of the song. On ‘Too Easy,’ Teezo and Rusk are singing about pushing a significant other away with their shitty actions. They want this person to not want to be with them and are doing their best to make that happen. ‘Familiarity’ returns to the 2010s Indie Rock sound that we heard earlier on the record. This song is driven by a light, airy guitar riff that makes me think of a breezy summer day when I hear it. This guitar riff is put on a soft and laid-back drum beat that makes the song perfect for any summer kickback. Even though Teezo Touchdown’s vocals on this track are pretty strange and all over the place, they are just tame enough to enhance the song and give it texture. Whereas there are other moments on the record where his vocals hurt the instrumental, in this case, they really help it. On ‘Familiarity,’ Teezo Touchdown sings about leaving home to pursue his dreams. He knows that he can not stay comfortable forever if he wants to achieve greatness. ‘I Don’t Think U C Me,’ is the second song on the record that features Isaiah Rusk. This is a slow, easy-going R&B track that reminds me of artists like Erykah Badu or Jill Scott. The song is driven by a cool and fun guitar riff that is put on a calm drum beat that fits the melody perfectly. The vocals on this song are pretty bizarre; Teezo’s vocals are rough and abrasive, and Isaiah Rusk’s vocals are sweet and nice. The contrast between their vocals is cool, but I sort of wish Isaiah was the only one singing on this track, as his vocals fit the song more. On ‘I Don’t Think U C Me,’ Teezo and Rusk are singing about doubting themselves in their relationship. They just can not understand why their significant others would want to be with them.

‘Daddy Mama Drama’ is a song that is inspired by the Hardcore Metal and Punk music that was big in the early to mid-2000s. This song is reminiscent of artists like A Day To Remember or even Bullet For My Valentine. It is amazing how much power this instrumental has considering it actually has no beat. The song is driven solely by a melody provided by electric guitars that fluctuate in terms of emphasis and intensity. At some points of the song, this melancholy melody has an Acoustic sound to it, and at other points, it has a harsh Metal sound. This contrast keeps the listener on their toes, and the differences in intensity of the guitar riff make the song feel extra emotional. Teezo Touchdown’s vocal performance on this track is all over the place, but it completely fits the crazy energy of the song. I like how his vocals change in intensity in the same way that the instrumental does, as it gives the song so much power. In ‘Daddy Mama Drama,’ Teezo is singing about drifting away from his parents and not relating to them anymore. He feels as he has gotten older, he has come to understand them less and less. ‘Nu Nay’ has a sound that is so different from anything else on the record. This song has an Alternative Hip Hop sound that immediately makes me think of the early 2000s music from Gorillaz. I could literally see this instrumental being on the album Demon Days. The melody is driven by a funky bassline complemented by synths that is put on a relaxing retro Hip Hop beat. Teezo Touchdown’s vocal performance enhances this song and makes it so fun. I love the contrast between how he raps the verses and sings the hook, as it gives the song a cool texture that makes it more exciting. On ‘Nu Nay,’ Teezo Touchdown sings about feeling like he is wasting money when he goes out to the club. He enjoys staying home and does not need to spend money on frivolous things he does not truly enjoy. ‘Stranger’ is a song that brings in a different kind of old-school Rock than we have seen on the record to this point. This song has a late 1970s Bluesy Americana Ballad Rock kind of feeling to it. When I listen to ‘Stranger,’ I think of artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Molly Hatchet. The melody for this track is provided by a slow, bright electric guitar riff with an epic and larger-than-life feeling to it. This guitar riff stands alone for most of the song, with some distorted synths coming in at the end of the track to give it a grandiose feeling. ‘Stranger’ is a song with no beat, which makes the melody feel even more huge and powerful. This is an additional track where Teezo Touchdown’s weird vocals enhance the track. I enjoy how animated and lively his vocal performance is, as it makes ‘Stranger’ feel even more monumental. In ‘Stranger,’ Teezo is saying that no one feels like a stranger to him because the world is so small. He feels like everyone relates to each other in some way, and no one feels like a true stranger to him because of this. It is an interesting sentiment that I am not sure I completely agree with, but I do understand what he is saying. Teezo closes out How Do You Sleep At Night? on a wild and climatic note with ‘The Original Was Better.’ The first half of this song has a calm Acoustic Rock sound with a Pop-Punk tint to it. If the whole instrumental sounded like this, I actually would have been okay with it because the melody has a balmy and uplifting feeling that I appreciate a lot. About halfway through the song, a HyperPop beat kicks in and the melody is saturated in synths, completely changing the energy of the song. It goes from feeling relaxed and calm to sounding anxious and crazy in the snap of one’s fingers. Teezo Touchdown’s vocal performance on this track is okay, but it is nothing to write home about. The main focus of the song is on the wild instrumental, and the vocals do not do a ton to change that. On ‘The Original Was Better,’ Teezo is singing about how he thinks his life was better before it got so complicated. He is contemplating whether he should have pursued his dreams in the way he did because it may not have been worth it. ‘The Original Was Better’ is a fun and interesting way to end this record that truly closes it out on a high note and with a bang. 

Judging from the polarizing opinions on Teezo Touchdown’s artistry that the world has had up until this point, How Do You Sleep At Night? was always going to have mixed reactions. It seems like he draws inspiration from literally everything and everyone, and he tries to combine all of his influences in ways that have never been done previously. As we see on this record, sometimes these crazy ideas work out in an amazing way, and sometimes they completely crash and burn. That is okay, because in order for culture to truly push forward, someone has to be willing to take risks and sometimes fail when taking those risks. If no one does this, we will never know what works and what does not work. How Do You Sleep At Night? is an album with some high highs and some low lows; this album has some great songs that are truly outside the box, and it has some moments that do not hit in the way that they were intended to hit. How Do You Sleep At Night? is a fun debut record from an important artist who is an innovator and boundary pusher that deserves way more credit, and it makes me excited to see what he can do in the future when he hones in his craft more concisely.

BEST TRACKS – ‘UUHH,’ ‘SWEET’ FEAT. FOUSHEÈ, ‘TOO EASY’ FEAT. ISAIAH RUSK, ‘FAMILIARITY,’ ‘DADDY MAMA DRAMA,’ ‘STRANGER’

6.31/10