Juwan Elcock’s BLK ODYSSY project is pushed by liberation. On his first album under this new moniker, titled BLK VINTAGE, ―born and raised in Plainfield, NJ, based in Austin, TX― dives into his personal history as a Black musician and the world he’s grown up around. It’s an album deeply informed by individual experiences but applied to the plight of Black Americans everywhere. Even when the album chooses smooth vibes and laid back lyrics in favor of overt activism, there’s a philosophical bent that inspires Elcock’s work. BLK VINTAGE is inspired by a few key moments and artists. There’s the death of Elcock’s brother, who was killed at the hands of police officers while Elcock was living in New Jersey. It’s the seminal moment of Elcock’s life, the moment he was forced to become an adult and reckon with the harsh reality of being Black in America. It fuels everything he does, especially his activism.

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