From tragedy to success, 24/8 share’s a survivor’s tale through his music. After facing a mild traumatic brain injury in 2019, the rapper had to redevelop many skills, including how to rap.
For five years, he dedicated himself to mastering his craft—again—and this time even better. “Why Do I Try?” is his first single since 2019. Vulnerable and melancholy, “Why Do I Try?” explores a broken relationship and the aftermath of walking away.
When his traumatic experience first occurred, 24/8 and his fiancée parted ways, inspiring the premise of “Why Do I Try?” “I kept thinking, why do I try (about that relationship)? It was the first thing that came to mind when I wondered what to write about. These days, I’m focusing more on the injury and being more vulnerable.”
“It’s about being in a relationship that’s toxic, and everyone can be in that situation. This song says, you’re not alone. It’s relatable,” shares the artist. Creating the single was a journey for 24/8. “It’s one of the first songs where I was trying to figure out if I could rap again.”
Growing up, the rapper was raised in a household of musicians and developed his passion for rap at the age of 12. “I’ve always loved rap, but I grew up with a jazz saxophonist dad and a jazz singer mom.” His family is still very much involved in music—both of their own accord and in support of his. In fact, it was 24/8’s father who connected him with the featured vocalist on his song.
“Why Do I Try” features a melancholy, beautiful vocal hook by Lily of the band, Lily and King. “Her voice on that hook is insane,” tells 24.8. “She did such a good job.”
24/8’s life-altering experience is a story worth hearing. “I had to relearn to rap following a brain injury. I lost 83kg during that time—it turned my whole life around.” Of all the moments he has lived so far, 24/8 is proudest of overcoming his injury and relearning how to rap. “Now I’m 100% dedicated to music,” shares the rapper.
Starting all over again was very frustrating. “It took forever,” he adds. “It was so repetitive. Then finally, after two years, something clicked. I figured out that I wanted to write about. Everything aligned together. Now, I write three songs a day.”
Creating “Why Do I Try?” was a lengthy process. “I wrote the hook years ago and wrote 25 versions of the verses. I kept doing it, but it was never good enough. Then one day, I just nailed it. The whole thing came together like a movie script, like creating a picture in someone’s mind through music,” shares the artist.
“Once the hook was on there, I realized it was originally really angry. When I heard Lily’s voice, it changed more to opening up and not being angry anymore, just sad. It was about facing the facts and ‘it is what it is’ mentality. Instead of having a beautiful voice and then me being angry, I tried to match her emotions.”
Picking up plays on radio stations from the United States to Australia, 24/8 is making waves with his latest single. Next month, listeners can expect more music from the artist. “I finished a another song just last night that explores me having an argument with my brain injury. I want to get better, but my brain says, hold on, look where we are now because of me. It’s what you do at nighttime in bed, thinking to yourself. That in a 3-minutes straight rap.”
Another single he’s working on with the working title Changes focuses on everything he’s been through and features family and friends on back-up vocals. Additionally, the rapper has one other song that speaks to what is currently going on in the world.
“I’m going to keep getting better,” promises 24/8. There’s no stopping him.
Make sure to stay connected to 24/8 on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
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