Kalm Before The Storm – Inside Out (Single Review)

Kalm Before The Storm needs no introduction. The St. Louis-based rap artist is known for his contemplative lyrics that talk about mental health, social and political issues, and basically everything under the sun. His honest delivery is what makes him stand out among all the other cookie-cutter artists out there right now. He doesn’t just rap; he throws his entire heart and soul into his music, giving 110% on each and every track.

KBTS is releasing a brand-new single, “Inside Out.’ Right off the bat, KBTS launches with these lyrics: “True that yourself is inside out/Much that we have to know that I’m about to find out/Sometimes it gets too much that I have to cry out…Because true knowledge is inside out.” He stacks his rhymes one on top of the other, and what you get is a verbose firestorm of energy. His rapping style is filled with ease as he leans into the lyrics and spits rhyme after rhyme like a perfect natural.

Whether in front of the mic or performing before a crowd, I can tell it is like second nature for him. The lyrics themselves can get a little neurotic as KBTS talks about being in your head too much. But as KBTS takes us on a spin with his whirlwind lyrics over a bed of beats and a melancholy piano melody, we see some experimentation on this topic as the protagonist slowly spirals. It talks about trying to “get a grip,” getting “stir-crazy,” and “too many voices.” Though the lyrics have a slightly negative slant, I can tell “Inside Out” is where KBTS feels most at home and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s where he comes up with his lyrics, the story and context of his songs, where he sheds all inhibitions and can finally be himself. On “Inside Out,” we see KBTS casting out his lyrics and then gradually building more and more momentum until the very last line: “Should I keep this head out of sight/Might kill me if I stay/keeping the doubt out of the way/Seconds from going astray….No time to play/Sanity fades/Of ensuing problems of the day.” As KBTS raps about his state of mind and gets up-close-and-personal about mental illness, listeners will find themselves getting immersed in the overall stark lyricisms that don’t hide behind conventions or social norms. KBTS’s brutal honesty gives us the facts straight to our faces, and we are all the better for it.

SCORE/Excellent: This was an excellent track as Kalm Before The Storm takes us on a memorable ride through his mental struggles and just living in his head too much. The honest delivery as well as KBTS’s assured rap style paints a genuine picture of what it is like to deal with mental illness. I feel like a lot of people can relate to his lyrics, and hopefully it reaches more people who suffer similar disorders. This track sheds new light on a topic that’s already been covered by creative artists all over the planet. Here, he gives his own special take and it is interesting to see his perspective. I give him kudos for daring to tackle this tough subject matter and sharing his insights to the world.

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