“Detroitâs Courtney Bell reflects on his own journey, offering seeds of wisdom sprinkled throughout his skillfully composed recollections.” – Billboard
“Courtney Bell is an up-and-coming rapper from Detroit whose gift for witty wordsmithing in singles like âSay You Wannaâ and âIceâ has put him on the radars of traditional rap fans” – UPROXX
“There is much to admire about Courtney Bell, but perhaps the most incredible feat is how real Courtney appears on and off wax.” – Audiomack
“Detroit rapper Courtney Bell has been making noise with his lyrics throughout the past few years.” –Â Hot 97
Emerging out of Detroitâs Westside as one of the most talented lyricists in his city, Courtney Bell has earned the title of local hero. Today, he shares âIssues,â his new single and video. Set to appear on his upcoming mixtape Microdose, out 5/17, the track samples Rose Royceâs âLove Donât Live Here Anymore,â providing a soulful backdrop to Courtneyâs reflective lyrics. He looks back on his upbringing, contemplating the struggles he and his family have faced, while keeping a positive outlook on the future: âReflections of my daddy, his trauma live in me / I want more for my kids so I been dealing with it / The power of God in all my ancestors / I donât chase after sh*t, I manifest it.â
The âIssuesâ video, directed by Diego, uses creative visuals to reflect the broken cycles many growing up in not only Courtneyâs neighborhood but also many others around the world face. As Courtney raps, faceless individuals tied up with puppet strings deal drugs behind him, symbolizing how powerless they often are against oppressive systemic forces.Â
âIssuesâ is the latest single from Courtney Bellâs upcoming project, Microdose, a wide-ranging effort that drops on May 17th via MNRK Urban. The track follows âWord II Conway,â Courtneyâs successful collaboration with Conway the Machine, and âWestside,” a single created in collaboration with Courtney’s mentor Royce Da 5’9, who plays Morpheus to Courtney’s Neo in the “Westside” video. Microdose was executive produced by Royce Da 5’9 and Keith “Pay Cash” Miller, and also features Black Thought, Benny The Butcher, LaRussell, Symba and more.
Renowned in the Detroit streets and more than ready for national recognition, Courtney Bell is on the come-up. The rapper took his talents to On The Radar earlier this year, demonstrating his lyrical prowess and giving a glimpse into what to expect from him this year. The Westside native previously made waves with his 2020 mixtape, Poverty Stricken, featuring the single “ICE” (1.5 million streams on Spotify) and a collaboration with REASON. Last year, his Poverty Strickensingle “Celebrate” landed on the soundtrack for the blockbuster Gran Turismo film.Â
Stay tuned for much more as Courtney plans to pave new territory with his upcoming mixtape, Microdose.
Watch âIssuesâ:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBEg1p4ksHk
Stream âIssuesâ: https://lnk.to/courtneybellissues
Credit: Anthony Harvey
For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Audible Treats
Annjie Houston, Audible Treats
Giovanna Melchiorre, MNRK Music Group
For nearly a decade, Courtney Bell has toed the line between consciousness, spirituality, and the streets across two self-released albums (2018âs 10 Commandments and 2020âs Poverty Stricken), including the million-plus streamer âICEâ and collaborations with mentor Royce 5â9â. During the early 2020s, the 29-year-old lyricist from Detroitâs West Side slowed his output after exiting a major label deal, grieving the loss of multiple family members, and rediscovering his passion for music. With an elevated skillset and the fire within, Microdose is a fitting catch-up for one of the most talented emerging voices in Hip Hop. The Royce-assisted âWestsideâ shares Courtneyâs concrete roots with the world, while âIssuesâ reveals the inner turmoil of a relatable artist who draws from within. The potent reintroduction project features Royce, Black Thought, Symba, Conway The Machine, Skilla Baby, and more.
“Issues”: https://lnk.to/courtneybellissues / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBEg1p4ksHk
“Word II Conway” ft. Conway The Machine:Â https://lnk.to/WordIIConway
“Westside” ft. Royce Da 5’9:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTRdWUFT2OUÂ /Â https://courtneybellroyceda5.lnk.to/Westside