Produced by Metro Boomin’.
On May 17, 2018, Offset was in a near fatal car accident. A gruesome scene painted a bleak future for the Migos member, showing his green Dodge Challenger crushed into oblivion with him barely escaping its clutches. Luckily, his injuries were minor relative to the odious calamity–he would live to rap another day, to be a father for another day.
But when someone experiences such acute trauma like that, they sometimes, usually, need to talk or vent about it to fully exercise the post traumatic demons. For Offset, that venting may have existed as some form of therapy. But as an artist, it seems like the most cathartic means of expression for him is taking to the one thing that ironically afforded him a green Dodge Challenge in the first place: making music.
Yesterday, Offset released the track and video, “Red Room”, off of his anticipated forthcoming debut solo album. Produced by frequent collaborator Metro Boomin’, the “Red Room” video shows the 27-year-old rapper recounting the harrowing car accident, and how it almost robbed him of his life, of everything he’s worked so hard for. To transcend his turbulent, fatherless adolescence to achieve rap superstardom just to have it all taken away by a slight jerk of the wheel seems cruel, unjust. To walk away is divine. Offset is here counting his blessings, thanking the man upstairs that he gets to live to talk about it, to put this anguish on wax for his debut record.
News surrounding Offset’s debut solo album began swirling in the hip-hop rumor ethos since he started cryptically tweeting about it last year. Slated to be the crown jewel for Quality Control’s dominant 2018–one that saw the debut solo albums from Quavo, Takeoff, and Lil Baby; Migos’ Culture II; Lil Yachty’s Nuthin’ 2 Prove; two releases from City Girls–Offset’s album fell victim to the proverbial industry delay. However, it was announced earlier this week that the long-anticipated release will drop next Friday, February 22nd.
After finally unveiling the release date, and having recovered from his car wreck, Offset’s solo album is just over the horizon; “Red Room” is our first taste of what’s to come. Offset is alive and well, and as the old adage goes: What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.
Watch the “Red Room” video below: