By Oliver Heffron

C.S. Armstrong is the modernized, self-proclaimed “Blues Man” that our cultural moment desperately needs. His new video “IT AINT RIGHT,” a new song off his upcoming EP #11911 (dropping 7/18), is a dedication to Armstrong’s cousin, Chancell Bradford, who was murdered in Shreveport, Louisiana in 2017.

Before the song begins, the video starts with a friend struggling with the thoughts of revenge and retribution over the murder when Armstrong interjects “Aren’t you tired of this shit? We gonna repeat the same shit over and over and over?” Armstrong’s words reflect the sentiment of an entire nation over the negligent abuse of young black men’s bodies, and the track channels this sentiment into Armstrong’s soulful lamentation “Send my cousin to an early grave, and all I can say is: ‘It ain’t right’” over gravestones. CS’s voice mashes soulful confidence (reminiscent of Anderson Paak) with the longing, smoky lamentations of traditional blues over soothing guitars and vocal samples and smooth percussion groove. Armstrong utilizes his plethora of musical abilities and emotional transparency to create a completely unique, groovy, and soul-touching sound. The Houston-native grew up surrounded by music and found his natural talent early, his instrumental domain ranging from classical piano to jazz saxophone. Armstrong left Houston at 19 to join the Army as a means of escape from his neighborhood, serving 8 years before landing in New York to chase his musical aspirations. Armstrong soon found success as half of the innovative-duo CharlieRED with Cobain Ivory and began touring with notorious New York acts including Action Bronson, Diddy, and Estelle before moving to Los Angeles to establish his solo career. In LA, Armstrong found inspiration working with the likes of Dr. Dre and Terrace Martin to create his 2019 album Truth Be Told which demonstrated Armstrong’s ability to combine his unique blues melodies with R&B, Hip-Hip, and Rock. Armstrong followed this with the 2020 mixtape The Blue Tape, which progressed his sound with more experimentation into modernizing the Blues sound. With the new video and EP around the corner, CS Armstrong is poised to become the “Blues Man” 2020 so desperately needs, and claims the spot of Artist of the Week.