Detroit-bred rapper Courtney Bell embraces the innate power of vulnerability with the release of his latest single: “Everyday.”
In preparation for the release of his next project: “It Gets Greater Later,” “Everyday” gives credence to the reality that daily living is substantial and the way you decide to live it influences your destiny.
Laced by Keith “Pay Cash” Miller, the beat is a piece of low-fi artwork that finely aligns with the aesthetic of the track.
The track’s aura can be described as a zen meditation on the tangible highs and lows of life and how it can get monotonous at times. Its relatability is second to none, as this is a universal concept.
Shot by rising videographer Diego and inspired by the classic 93 film Groundhog Day, the video chronicles a cycle of Bell reliving the same day, waking up, falling into the same habits, and finding solace in numbing the pain. Some of his daily habits in the visual include smoking, drinking, zoning out, and trying his best not to crash out. Eventually, Bell returns to equilibrium.
“This song came from a place where every day felt like the last,” Bell said to The Knockturnal. “Stuck in the same habits, chasing the same highs, avoiding the silence. It was time to face it. That’s where everything started to shift for me.”
In conjunction with the piece, Courtney Bell spoke with The Knockturnal about a wide array of topics, including (but not limited to) creative inspiration, the message behind his latest single, his evolution as an artist, and more. Here’s how the conversation went down.
The Knockturnal: “Everyday” has a powerful, motivational feel to it — what inspired the message behind this track?
Courtney Bell: The inspiration behind this record came from repeated cycles in life. It came from my awareness of my patterns that I had grown tired of choosing & decided To Choose differently…
The Knockturnal: How do you push yourself creatively to make each new release different from your last?
Courtney Bell: I honestly push myself so much in life that it just became second nature. I also have a team that holds me accountable, making sure I’m not doing the same things creatively… I also study the greats of our time & how every album, for example, that Jay-Z has released, he was a different character, for a lack of better words! That inspired me to dive deeper into my character & be more attentive to my message, my story (Concept) & What’s been portrayed through imagery & music
The Knockturnal: How does “Everyday” fit into your artistic evolution so far?
Courtney Bell: For me, it shows vulnerability & honesty in my pen… I felt for so long because I made the transition musically that I was not speaking my honest to god truth about how I really felt… I would be in my head about saying certain things because of how the audience would receive me… I’ve since then healed that wound of caring about what others think about me, & this record was birth so from this point forward, I choose my heart & honesty with my pen
The Knockturnal: What do you hope listeners take away from this track beyond just enjoying the music?
Courtney Bell: I hope the listener takes awareness more seriously when it comes to habits & patterns that we all subconsciously & consciously live in everyday… I want the listener to know that it’s okay to mess up as long as you’re aware of the fuck up, get back on the horse…
The Knockturnal: If you could describe your creative process in three words, what would they be?
Courtney Bell: Militant, Free & Godly
The Knockturnal: Growing up in Detroit, how has the city shaped not just your sound, but your mindset as an artist and a person?
Courtney Bell: Man, my favorite artists in life are & were from my city. I love being from Detroit & I love our sound. It’s kinda like a “If you know, you know” kind of energy here. The creatives here are celebrities to us before the world catches on to them… Being raised here showed me how to care for myself at a very young age… Detroit showed me how to hustle, dress, talk & live… Detroit gave me the grit & storytelling ability early on… as a person, Detroit showed me how to turn shit to sugar… we have
The Knockturnal: Your music often has a spiritual and introspective undertone. What role does faith or inner growth play in your creative process?
Courtney Bell: Man without my faith or connection to the most high & spirit realm, there would be no music to create…. Everything I do comes from a real place or something I have lived… I hear the Most High speak to me when I get the spirit of creativity over me… Music is beyond spiritual….
To keep up with Courtney Bell, follow him on Instagram.